Steven Gilbert gets 174½ to 184½ years to life in prison in human trafficking case

Convicted human trafficker Steven Gilbert was sentenced to a term of more than 174 years to life in prison on Thursday by Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Miraldi. Gilbert will be eligible for parole after serving at least 174½ years behind bars, or up to 184½ if he has any disciplinary issues in prison. Miraldi also fined Gilbert nearly $316,000. Gilbert had no reaction as the sentence was imposed, and did not apologize when given a chance to speak. In a nearly 10-minute rambling statement to the court, Gilbert instead claimed his constitutional rights were violated and that his attorney was ineffective. The Lorain County Prosecutor's Office asked for 217 years to life in prison, while defense attorney Steve Albenze asked "for some leniency," for Gilbert who was convicted of raping, assaulting and providing drugs to women with substance abuse disorders to make money for him through prostitution. Saying Gilbert was "still plotting" and trying to run a prostitution scheme from the Lorain County Jail before his trial began, and Assistant Prosecutor Matt Kern told Miraldi the only way Gilbert will be stopped "is when someone makes him, and now that task falls to this court." Gilbert "should never be free to do this to another person," Kern said. Following a two-week trial in April, a jury found Gilbert, 36, of Elyria, guilty of 29 felony charges including trafficking in persons, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, rape, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, compelling prostitution, promoting prostitution, sexual battery, and money laundering, along with numerous firearms specifications that added 15 mandatory years to his prison sentence. Miraldi also found Gilbert guilty of two counts of having weapons under disability — or, having firearms while being a convicted felon — that was not considered by the jury, and labeled Gilbert a violent offender and sexually violent predator. A Tier III sex offender, Gilbert will be required to register with his local sheriff's office every 90 days in person for the rest of his life — but only in the event that he is ever released from prison. The jury found Gilbert not guilty of two counts of rape, one count each of trafficking in persons, compelling prostitution, and promoting prostitution, and several specifications. Seventeen charges against Gilbert were dismissed by the prosecutor's office mid-trial after some of Gilbert's alleged victims did not testify. Gilbert asked for an appeal, and Miraldi said he would appoint an attorney to handle that on Gilbert's behalf. Follow The Chronicle-Telegram for more. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or ½. Follow him on Twitter @DaveOBrienCT.