An ex-convict who coerced his daughter’s former college roommates into prostitution and forced labor in exchange for millions of dollars has been given a 60-year prison sentence. After a protracted trial, Lawrence “Larry” Ray was found guilty of racketeering, conspiracy, forced labor, and sex trafficking.

The judge at the sentencing hearing remarked on Ray’s ability to captivate his victims before robbing them of their bodies, relationships, and sense of worth. One of the victims said she was coerced into making restitution to Ray during her testimony, which described the victims as having endured “unremitting sadistic torture.”

Ray was charged with controlling his victims’ lives through extortion, deception, and psychological torment. Some of the victims testified during the trial about Ray threatening to kill them or their loved ones if they did not comply with his demands. If they did not provide him the compensation he requested, he additionally threatened to have them deported.

Regarding Ray’s actions, the judge commented, “he had the evil genius to take people who were young, not minors, and he broke them … and then he used them for his evil needs.” The judge made note of Ray’s refusal to take accountability for his deeds during the sentencing process despite the overwhelming evidence against him.

The judge stated that Ray’s punishment ought to act as a deterrence to those who might be tempted to take advantage of others.