Sparta man’s prison term for human trafficking is upheld

A Sparta man convicted of human trafficking has been re-sentenced to 25 years in prison, after his case had gone through the appeals courts. 

Monta Groce already had gotten a 25-year sentence back in 2016, but the case was returned to federal court for a review because of a technicality.  

Investigators say Groce had forced three women in the Sparta area who were heroin addicts to work as prostitutes, in return for providing them with heroin. 

A prosecutor says Groce treated the women as ‘sex slaves.’ 

Groce also had been convicted of maintaining a drug house, and possessing a firearm.