A Seattle man, Shante Broady, 37, has been indicted on charges of sex trafficking through force, fraud, and coercion, as well as transporting an adult for prostitution. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced that Broady pleaded 'not guilty' to the charges during his arraignment. He is currently detained at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac, awaiting trial set for July 14, 2025, before U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour.
Broady has been under law enforcement scrutiny since March 2023 following reports of sex trafficking activities in Portland, Oregon. In November 2024, a former girlfriend accused him of assault.
In April 2025, two women from Seattle contacted the FBI with allegations against Broady regarding sex trafficking and threats of violence. One woman reported that Broady unsuccessfully attempted to force her into prostitution. Another woman claimed that in March 2025, Broady lured her from Canada by purchasing her plane ticket and then coerced her into prostitution using threats and violence while brandishing a firearm when angered. Text messages reportedly document these threats. The victims obtained a civil restraining order against him, and the Canadian woman was able to return home.
The criminal complaint also accuses Broady of involvement in transporting and harboring a juvenile who had run away from a boarding school in another state. Law enforcement found the juvenile on North Aurora Avenue and safely returned her to family members. This aspect of the case remains under investigation.
If convicted of sex trafficking through force, fraud, and coercion, Broady faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to life imprisonment. Transporting an adult for prostitution carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison.
The indictment's charges are allegations at this stage; individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
The FBI is investigating the case with Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham prosecuting it. Ms. Crisham leads Anti-Trafficking prosecutions in the Western District of Washington.