Overview

• A Fulton County jury convicted John-Michael Gibson on July 18 of 11 counts including rape, aggravated sodomy, two counts of sex trafficking and RICO violations after a seven-week trial.
• On July 21, Judge Melynee Leftridge imposed concurrent life terms for rape and an additional 70 years for racketeering and trafficking charges.
• Gibson’s mother, Linda Smith, received a 30-year sentence on RICO charges and his cousin Tyrone Taylor was also sentenced to life plus 70 years for their roles in the prostitution enterprise.
• Prosecutors introduced evidence from eight seized cellphones, phone records, financial documents and victim testimonies to demonstrate a seven-year coercive operation under Pyrez Music Group LLC.
• Gibson has maintained his innocence and his legal team has indicated plans to appeal or seek a new trial.