On February 5, Randolf Simmons, a 46-year-old man, was charged with 35 counts following a grand jury investigation into alleged drug trafficking and human trafficking. Simmons was denied bail following his arrest and is being held at SCI-Phoenix at the time of reporting. A preliminary hearing in the case was scheduled for March 4, but was subsequently cancelled. He later appeared for a formal arraignment on April 3; however, a new date for further proceedings has not yet been announced.
According to the grand jury presentment, Simmons allegedly operated a drug and sex trafficking scheme from his Harrisburg apartment between September 2023 and November 2023. Authorities allege that the location functioned as a “trap house” where narcotics, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, were sold and women were forced to remain for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts with individuals who entered the residence. Court documents reportedly state that the women were also forced to use drugs while at the apartment in order to maintain compliance and sustain addiction.
One victim who was allegedly held at the residence was forced to engage in repeated sexual acts with multiple individuals, reportedly involving approximately ten different men on a repeating basis. The victim was allegedly never compensated for these acts. According to the presentment, Simmons allegedly confiscated her cell phone, belongings, and clothing, and she was required to “earn” access to basic necessities such as food, water, and use of the bathroom. Authorities further allege that Simmons punished noncompliance by raping her and allowing other men to do the same. The victim was eventually able to escape the apartment with assistance from a male resident at the apartment.
Simmons was charged with thirty-five criminal offenses, including trafficking-related crimes, involuntary servitude, kidnapping, sexual assault, and drug-related offenses. Under Pennsylvania law, trafficking and involuntary servitude charges involve knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining individuals for forced labor or commercial sexual activity through coercion, threats, or abuse of power. These offenses carry severe penalties.
Investigators also charged a second individual, 35-year-old Daron Wilson, with trafficking in individuals and possession with intent to deliver in connection with the same operation. According to the grand jury presentment, Wilson allegedly brought at least one victim to the apartment where the exploitation occurred.
Commercial sexual exploitation frequently overlaps with substance use and dependency. Traffickers may strategically use substances to manipulate and control victims, increasing their dependence on the exploiter and making escape more difficult. In some cases, traffickers introduce controlled substances to victims; in others, they exploit pre-existing substance use to maintain psychological and physical control. Survey data from U.S. trafficking survivors indicate that approximately 84.3% reported using substances during their commercial sexual exploitation, highlighting the significant role drugs can play in exploitative environments.
Substance use can function both as a tool of coercion and a mechanism of control. At the same time, many survivors report developing addictions during exploitation as a coping mechanism to manage trauma, violence, and psychological distress. Trafficking survivors often experience severe physical and psychological trauma and may turn to substance use as a way to cope with their exploitation, particularly when access to mental health services and support systems are limited.
Recognizing the intersection between substance use and trafficking is critical for effective intervention. Addressing trafficking requires integrated responses that include trauma-informed care, substance use treatment, and stable housing in addition to criminal justice interventions for sex traffickers and buyers. This aligns with Pennsylvania’s legal framework, under 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3012(b)(12), which explicitly identifies the facilitation or control of controlled substances as a means of coercion within trafficking offenses. By codifying substance-related manipulation as a legally recognized method of trafficking, the statute acknowledges that exploitation is often sustained not only through physical force or threats, but through dependency and addiction as well. Accordingly, effective responses must address both the criminal conduct of traffickers and the substance-related vulnerabilities and dependencies that are deliberately created or exploited.
Combatting commercial sexual exploitation requires holding traffickers and sex buyers accountable while identifying and supporting victims. The CSE Institute thus endorses and supports the adoption of the Nordic Model or Equality Model which promotes: (1) the decriminalization of the person who is selling sex, (2) criminalization of sex buyers and facilitators, (3) educating the public about the harms of prostitution, and (4) funded, holistic exit services for victims of commercial sexual exploitation.
The Equality Model recognizes that individuals in prostitution are often operating under conditions of vulnerability, coercion, or exploitation and should not be criminalized. Instead, accountability is placed on traffickers and those who create demand for commercial sex. By shifting legal and social consequences away from prostituted persons and toward those who drive exploitation, the model seeks to reduce harm, prevent trafficking, and support long-term pathways out of exploitation.
The CSE Institute commends the efforts of the Dauphin County investigators and law enforcement agencies involved in this case for their work addressing trafficking and exploitation in the Harrisburg area.As investigations continue, authorities should also pursue accountability for the 10 alleged individuals who purchased sex from the victim. Addressing the demand for paid sex is a critical component of disrupting commercial sexual exploitation and imposes accountability onto those who perpetuate it.
The CSE Institute will continue to provide updates on this matter.
All views expressed herein are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law or of Villanova University.