Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that 54-year-old Anthony Curry received a true life sentence on 22 felony sex crime convictions. Four of the true life prison sentences will run consecutively following a four-day trial that was prosecuted by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Team.
Under Oregon law, Curry is ineligible for parole based on his criminal record and the court’s findings, which means he will never be released from prison.
“Anthony Curry stole my teenage years away from me. Even after I was rescued there was no way for me to be a ‘normal’ teenager. There was no way for me to live a ‘normal’ life. I tried as a teenager, and I am trying as an adult, a mother, and a wife, but there is so much damage, and I can never replace the years that are now lost to me,” the victim wrote in an impact statement, which was presented to the court.
In her impact statement, the victim described the impact Curry had on her by forcing her into the commercial sex industry.
“Anthony Curry brainwashed me. He made me feel dirty and worthless. And it has taken me years, and the birth of my son, to understand that I am not worthless, and to begin to understand just how worthy and beautiful I really am,” her impact statement continues.
During trial, the state presented evidence that showed the victim was 15 years old at the time of the offenses. In July 2014, she was in Portland, Oregon waiting for a TriMet bus when Curry drove past her, slowed his vehicle and circled the area. Curry stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road and started talking to her.
He convinced the victim to enter his vehicle and brought her to his residence in Multnomah County.
“Human trafficking is a form of slavery, where traffickers prey on vulnerable victims submitting them to commercial sex acts with strangers in order to make money,” said Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney J.R. Ujifusa, who prosecuted this case. “Individuals like Anthony Curry exploit young women into engaging in sexual acts with strangers thus placing them into dangerous situations so they can personally profit.”
In this case, Curry immediately started grooming the teen for human sex trafficking. During the investigation, law enforcement located multiple photos of the victim taken by Curry. The first photo was dated July 19, 2014.
The photos of the victim were posted to Backpage.com. Additionally, the victim testified that Curry provided her with a fake ID so they could enter local strip clubs.
The victim found herself dancing naked alongside adult women. Curry would drop her off at the club and pick her up “with his hand out waiting for that money,” Ujifusa said during closing arguments.
On September 9, 2014, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Curry’s residence where they located a heavily-highlighted and studied book titled, "The Art of Seduction.”
The book included detailed information on how to manipulate and control individuals. The book explained how to locate potential individuals who can be highly influenced.
“Anthony Curry – like many traffickers – was manipulative and preyed on any weakness he could find. We are so proud of survivors like the young woman in this case. The actions of Anthony Curry will have a lifelong effect on her, but as we’ve seen today, she is stronger now. She is a champion for other survivors,” said SDDA Ujifusa.
“Anthony Curry is a smart, sophisticated and an adaptable sexual predator. He has continuously evolved to become more dangerous through every arrest and every conviction. He had studied to become a predator to prey on the most vulnerable members of our community for more than 25 years,” said SDDA Ujifusa. “Since the 1990s, he has been looking for vulnerable children to rape, threaten, manipulate and control to get what he wants.”
Curry will have to register as a sex offender for life.
The jury acquitted Curry of one count of sodomy in the third degree.
This case was litigated by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Team, which includes two attorneys, an investigator and a victim advocate. Additionally, an attorney assigned to the MCDA gang unit is available to help prosecute cases and support the team as trafficking routinely intersects with gang violence.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office recognizes the work of Beaverton Police Detective Chad Opitz, who is a task force officer on the Portland FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, for his work as lead investigator on this case.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office’s Human Trafficking Team works to protect victims utilizing a three-prong approach: (1) aggressively prosecuting those who traffic victims to sex buyers; (2) reducing demand for exploitation in all forms to include a dedicated focus on a reduction of sex buyers; and (3) ensuring adequate protection and support for victims of human trafficking.
Source: Multnomah County District Attorney