Man found guilty of human trafficking, drug charges

Published 3:15 pm Friday, May 12, 2017

COLUMBIANA – A 39-year-old Birmingham man has been found guilty by a Shelby County jury of second-degree human trafficking, trafficking heroin and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Consenta

The jury trial for Kelandus Tarvares Consenta, who lists an address in the 800 Block of 12th Avenue South in Birmingham, began May 8, and the jury returned the verdict on May 10.

The trial was presided over by Circuit Judge Lara Alvis.

Consenta was arrested in August 2014 and held at the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $531,000 after he required a woman to prostitute herself in exchange for “drugs, money and shelter,” according to court documents.

According to Consenta’s arrest warrant, he allegedly “knowingly benefited financially or by receiving anything of value from participating in a venture of engagement for the purpose of sexual or labor servitude.”

The human trafficking warrant said Consenta allegedly “Required (the victim) to prostitute herself,” and said Consenta allegedly “Takes the money earned (and) provides drugs, money and shelter” to the victim.

Consenta’s trafficking heroin charge came when he allegedly had 5.1 grams of the drug while at the intersection of Cahaba Park Circle and U.S. 280 at the time of his arrest.

He also allegedly had syringes used to inject “a controlled substance,” according to his arrest warrant.

Trafficking heroin is a Class A felony, punishable by up to life in prison. Second-degree human trafficking is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.