A 35-year-old Gastonia man and his mother were sentenced to time in federal prison for a sex trafficking operation that prostituted children.Samuel “Promise” Pratt, of Gastonia, North Carolina, was sentenced to life in federal prison and his mother, Daphne Pratt, 53, also of Gastonia, was sentenced to 12 years. All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.Samuel Pratt was previously found guilty on eight counts related to sex trafficking, child pornography, and firearm charges in federal court in Columbia. Samuel Pratt was given four life sentences for sex trafficking, 30 years for production of child pornography, 10 years for possessing child pornography, 10 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm and five years for obstruction of justice. He was also ordered to pay the child victims more than $40,000 in restitution. Daphne Pratt pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sex traffic minors and testified against her son in his trial in exchange for a reduced sentence.Evidence presented in a trial showed that Samuel Pratt ran a business prostituting adults and children in South Carolina, North Carolina, and New York. Daphne Pratt testified about her son’s control of the juveniles, as well as her role in running the business at his direction after her son was imprisoned on federal charges. Samuel Pratt is the first human trafficker convicted at trial in South Carolina.

A 35-year-old Gastonia man and his mother were sentenced to time in federal prison for a sex trafficking operation that prostituted children.

Samuel “Promise” Pratt, of Gastonia, North Carolina, was sentenced to life in federal prison and his mother, Daphne Pratt, 53, also of Gastonia, was sentenced to 12 years. All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.


Samuel Pratt was previously found guilty on eight counts related to sex trafficking, child pornography, and firearm charges in federal court in Columbia.

Samuel Pratt was given four life sentences for sex trafficking, 30 years for production of child pornography, 10 years for possessing child pornography, 10 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm and five years for obstruction of justice. He was also ordered to pay the child victims more than $40,000 in restitution.

Daphne Pratt pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sex traffic minors and testified against her son in his trial in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Evidence presented in a trial showed that Samuel Pratt ran a business prostituting adults and children in South Carolina, North Carolina, and New York.

Daphne Pratt testified about her son’s control of the juveniles, as well as her role in running the business at his direction after her son was imprisoned on federal charges.

Samuel Pratt is the first human trafficker convicted at trial in South Carolina.