A Raleigh woman, Brieania Shidae Pinnock, has been sentenced to 216 months in prison for her involvement in sex trafficking a minor and producing child pornography. Pinnock, aged 23, pled guilty to the charges on August 15, 2024.
The case unfolded after law enforcement received a report of a missing juvenile on June 23, 2022. Officers later responded to an overdose incident at the Budgetel Inn and Suites in Raleigh, where they found the missing 12-year-old girl. She was revived and taken to a hospital for treatment.
Investigations revealed that the victim had been advertised for commercial sex on two websites with misleading claims about her age. The advertisements featured nude photographs of the minor, falsely claiming she was 19 years old. Further investigation identified Trinity Sky Alston as an accomplice in these activities. Phone messages between Pinnock and Alston confirmed their awareness of the victim's true age and their involvement in arranging commercial sex acts.
A forensic examination of Pinnock’s phone uncovered numerous images of child pornography, including original photos of the victim taken at Alston’s residence in Goldsboro on June 16, 2022.
Trinity Sky Alston pled guilty on March 13, 2024, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion of a minor and aiding and abetting. Alston is set to be sentenced in April.
The announcement was made by Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina following sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The case was investigated by the Raleigh Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Peaden.
Further details can be accessed through related court documents available on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or via PACER under Case No. 5:23-cr-00210-FL-1.