GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Two men accused of human trafficking after deputies say they forced a woman to go into a metro Grand Rapids bank and open an account have entered pleas in the 2023 case.
The pair were set for trial Monday in Kent County Circuit Court on multiple charges, including unlawful imprisonment and human trafficking. But the trial was canceled after they pleaded no contest this week to an amended count of illegal possession of a financial transaction device, a four-year felony. In exchange for the pleas, other charges were dismissed.
Darvionce C. Smith, and Devaughntre D. Bates, both 28 and from Kalamazoo, will return to court for sentencing in early November.
‘Classic case’: Human trafficking charges in bank scheme
The arrests happened in late November 2023 after a woman entered a Byron Township bank and told employees she was being forced to open a bank account…