Philadelphia Man Sentenced In Human Trafficking, Torture Case
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia man has been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison as part of a plea deal for his role in a human trafficking and torture case.
Two women were lured to the defendant's home and held hostage, and one suffered excruciating torture before she was sent home to Pittsburgh. (read related story)
Prosecutor Joseph McGlynn says Michael Rhoades and his wife Tamara lured the women to their North Philadelphia home for a sexual relationship, and then held them hostage, threatening and beating them and stealing their money.
"Michael Rhoades, in particular, took their checks and profited from Social Security and disability benefits as well as student loan checks that the one young woman was receiving," McGlynn says, "and just used that money for whatever he felt like doing.
But McGlynn says Rhoades played a lesser role in a final despicable act of torture. He says Tamara Rhoades and a third defendant, Steven Mills, who pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later, burned one victim repeatedly with fire, bleach and alcohol, urged each other on and laughed about it. (read related story)
Their sentence will be decided by a judge.
