Shannima Yuantrell Session, known as Shalamar, from Lake Placid, Florida, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for sex trafficking nearly a dozen women and girls. The sentencing follows his conviction by a jury in the Southern District of Florida on 10 counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and three counts involving minors. A restitution hearing is scheduled for April 17.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael S. Davis for the Southern District of Florida emphasized the priority of protecting victims of human trafficking and child exploitation. “We are committed to aggressively combating these exploitative crimes that victimize the most vulnerable people in our society," he stated.
Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office highlighted the collaborative efforts leading to this sentence. “This substantial sentence is indicative of the egregious sexual exploitation committed by Shannima Yuantrell Session on numerous juveniles and women in Highlands County, Florida,” Veltri said.
During a nine-day trial in September 2024, evidence revealed that Session coerced victims into commercial sex acts between July 2011 and July 2013 and again from February 2016 to February 2019. He promised legitimate work and housing assistance to vulnerable women and girls but used these promises to exploit them.
Session controlled victims through food deprivation and forced sexual activity. He resorted to physical violence against some victims, employing methods that left no visible marks. Testimonies described extreme abuse, including beatings with metal objects and threats with firearms.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Miami Field Office with help from the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover along with Trial Attorneys Leah Branch and Matthew Thiman prosecuted the case.
Authorities encourage anyone with information about human trafficking to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org for more details.