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Every summer in the Midwest, residents brace themselves for not only sweltering temperatures but something a bit more mysterious – a stifling heat that seemingly sticks to the skin. But that is much more than the imagination; it might actually be corn sweat. As strange as it sounds, this real and powerful phenomenon, known scientifically as evapotranspiration, actually plays a key role in driving up humidity. That’s especially true during the dog days of summer. And with people becoming more knowledgeable about the country’s agricultural industry, this important issue has gotten more attention. But what exactly is corn sweat and why is it turning fields of corn into giant humidifiers? Let’s break down the science, scale and quirky facts behind one of nature’s most bizarre weather contributors. 

What is corn sweat?

Corn sweat is the nickname for evapotranspiration, which is a natural process, as The Smithsonian describes. During this process, plants (but corn in particular), release water vapor into the atmosphere. And as corn grows, it absorbs water through its roots and moves it up through its stalks and leaves. But this moisture eventually escapes through the leaves’ tiny (plant) pores.

These are called stomata, and they help the moisture to enter the air as water vapor. So when temperatures rise and the surrounding air becomes dry, corn basically does what humans do: it sweats. It does so to cool itself down and maintain internal hydration, a survival mechanism. 

Why does corn sweat matter? 

In the Midwest, where corn is king and fields stretch for miles, the overall effect of this transpiration (or sweating) can be significant. This process is estimated to push localized humidity levels higher than surrounding areas. This phenomenon creates an overall Midwestern mugginess, which may feel familiar to some people. Per The Smithsonian, “For context, farmers planted 91.5 million acres of corn in 2024, of which only about 20 percent is grown for human consumption. […] Most of the country’s corn is used in animal feed and ethanol-based fuels.”

Despite the term sounding like a joke, corn sweat is a pretty serious concern for people and agriculture generally. Meteorologists actually take corn sweat pretty seriously when calculating summer heat waves. That is particularly true in agricultural regions like Indiana, Iowa and Illinois. 

How much does corn sweat a day?

Believe it or not, an acre of mature corn can release between 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water per day, as The University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences confirms. At peak perspiration, that number can hike up to 5,000 gallons of water per day being released into the atmosphere during summer heat. Multiply that by thousands of acres across the Corn Belt, that’s equivalent to billions of gallons of water vapor being released into the air each day.

As The Herald-Times reports, although that number seems pretty high, it’s less than expected. In fact, “An inch of rainfall, by comparison, introduces about 27,000 gallons of water to an acre of land.” So, although it may be expected that this phenomenon would make the weather feel more manageable, like rain, there are serious matters to consider. 

This massive output of moisture doesn’t just affect nearby crops; it alters local weather patterns. It often raises dew patterns and pushes the heat index. So overall, it impacts how the weather and heat often feel well above the actual temperature. During some Midwestern heatwaves, the lingering nighttime humidity, which often feels oppressive, is attributed to corn sweat. Unlike regular heat, this humidity does not even go away when the sun sets, making it harder for people and the environment to cool down overnight. 

Is corn sweat good?

The answer to this question is a bit complicated from an agricultural standpoint. Corn sweat is a sign of healthy crops, since it shows that the corn plants are actively regulating their temperature and absorbing water and nutrients properly. Transpiration also helps plant tissue not to overheat and ultimately supports photosynthesis. This is critical for growing strong, productive ears of corn.

However, from a human perspective, corn sweat is not exactly ideal. The additional moisture it dumps into the air can make already hot conditions feel unbearable. This is particularly true when people already deal with stagnant air or high-pressure systems like a heat dome. 

High humidity makes it harder for the human body to cool itself through perspiration. This increases the risk of things like heat exhaustion or heatstroke. As The Smithsonian confirms, “High humidity exacerbates the health risks of extreme heat, which is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States and a growing concern in a changing climate.”

Corn sweat also keeps temperatures elevated overnight, reducing the relief naturally provided by cooler evenings. So, while corn sweat is great for the plant and those looking to enjoy it, it can make life miserable for those nearby during a heatwave.   

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real name for corn sweat?

The technical term for corn sweat is evapotranspiration, a combination of terms, per Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. It is a mix of the word evaporation, which is water rising from the soil, and transpiration, water released by plants. So while corn sweat is a cool nickname, evapotranspiration is the process responsible for the phenomenon. 

What does corn sweat smell like?

Many people describe the smell of cornfields in the summer as sweet, earthy and slightly musty. So the smell isn’t offensive. But it is distinctive and might even trigger nostalgia for anyone raised around agriculture. 

What is the hairy stuff on corn called?

The silky threads on the top of an ear of corn are called corn silks, as the Nebraska Corn Board reports. These play a crucial role in reproduction for corn, since each silk connects to a potential kernel and must be pollinated. Though these are unrelated to corn sweat, they are another quirky feature of corn that adds to its uniqueness.

British singer Jane Eugene is facing deportation after overstaying her visa by 26 years.

According to TheRickeySmileyMorningShow.com, the 62-year-old singer, who’s best known for being a member of the British R&B band Loose Ends alongside guitarist Carl McIntosh and keyboardist Steve Nichol, was arrested in May and may be banned from entering the U.S. for a decade. Read on for more on her visa status and arrest.

Eugene was at the U.S.-Canada border when she was arrested

Per TheRickeySmileyMorningShow.com, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed Eugene was arrested on May 3, 2025, at the U.S.-Canada border crossing in Niagara Falls, New York. The singer was attempting to enter Canada and was denied entry. She was later taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. She remains in custody as she waits for a formal hearing with the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

Department of Homeland Security has confirmed Eugene attempted to get a U.S. green card

Several outlets have reported that Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed Eugene had previously tried to obtain a U.S. green card. Her attempts her unsuccessful.

“Jane Eugene Sendall Peters was denied an immigrant petition for alien workers in 1999 and had already overstayed her visa at the time of application,” McLaughlin said, per The Rickey Smiley Show. “The law applies equally, even to celebrities.”

Current immigration law classifies overstaying a visa by more than a year as “unlawful presence” and can lead to a 10-year bar from reentering the United States once an individual is deported.

Americans hoping for another stimulus check in July may have to make other plans, as the IRS has not announced any new scheduled federal payments. Some individuals may still receive tax refunds or inflation refund checks, but these are not part of a broader relief program.

Here’s what every American taxpayer needs to know about past stimulus checks, tracking federal tax and inflation refund efforts, and eligibility based on the states offering these funds.

What states are sending inflation refund checks?

Some states refer to these funds as “inflation refund checks” or “rebate checks,” which are sent to eligible households that pay property tax or rent. Pennsylvania, Georgia and Colorado send payments to residents based on varying criteria and qualifications, according to WTOP and PhillyBurbs.com.

Other states, including New York, have sent or are sending one-time “inflation relief checks” to residents impacted by higher sales tax. The funds vary based on income; individuals earning up to $75,000 receive $200, and married couples filing jointly earning up to $150,000 receive $400.

“These payments may soften the blow of inflation,” Daniel Burnside, a clinical professor in finance at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, told WTOP, “but they will not solve it. Think of it as a financial aspirin, not a cure. Helpful for a headache, but it won’t fix the underlying condition.”

When were the past stimulus checks issued?

The U.S. government issued three stimulus checks between 2020 and 2021.

First check (2020): Up to $1,200 per individual, $2,400 per couple, plus $500 per child under 17.

Second check (2021): Up to $600 per individual, $1,200 per couple, plus $600 per child under 17.

Third check (2021): $1,400 per eligible individual and dependent.

The deadline to claim the third stimulus check or the Recovery Rebate Credit was April 15. This deadline applied even to those with tax extensions, and no late claims or appeals were allowed. Unclaimed payments are returned to the U.S. Treasury, per PhillyBurbs.com.

Blavity reported that President Donald Trump confirmed in February that his administration was mulling the idea that the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, would send $5,000 stimulus checks to American taxpayers in an effort to reduce government size and federal spending. However, there have been no updates about this proposed plan.

When should taxpayers expect their refunds?

If a person filed their federal taxes electronically and provided banking details, they can expect a direct deposit refund within 21 days. Without banking information, a paper check may take six to eight weeks by mail.

They can check their refund status using the IRS “Where’s My Refund” tool (updated daily) by entering their Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount. They may also call the IRS at 800-829-1954 for more information.

For 2025, if their return was e-filed and accepted by April 15, they should expect their refund by May 6 (direct deposit) or June 16 (paper check).

Most states, including Pennsylvania, offer online portals to track state tax refunds.

The ex-police officer who shot multiple rounds into Breonna Taylor‘s home has been sentenced to 33 months in prison.

As Blavity reported, Brett Hankison was one of the authorities involved in the March 2020 shooting and raid incident that took the life of Taylor in Louisville. Hankison opened 10 rounds of fire erratically into the sliding glass door and window of Taylor’s apartment home the night of the raid.

Initially, Hankison was federally charged with two counts of violating civil rights. Later on, he was found guilty of violating Taylor’s civil rights by using excessive force during the home invasion in November 2024. Regarding the second count related to three neighbors whose apartments were also hit with bullets, he was acquitted on that charge.

Hankison remains the only person convicted in connection with Taylor’s death.

Ex-officer Brett Hankison was sentenced to 33 months in prison for his role in Breonna Taylor’s death

After serving his time behind bars, Hankison will remain under supervision for three years, ABC News reported. This came in after a sentencing memo was filed on July 16 by the Department of Justice, which recommended Hankison serve one day in prison and three years of supervised release. The document was not signed by the line prosecutors.

While the defense argued Hankison deserved a new trial, citing alleged prosecutorial misconduct in last year’s proceedings, prosecutors maintained that his actions were reckless and unjustified.

Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, shared in a press conference after the hearing that while she wasn’t necessarily pleased with the sentencing, she was thankful that justice was partially served for her daughter. Also, she credited the judge, stating had done her best despite a new prosecutor at sentencing who hadn’t seen the full trial and appeared to advocate more for the defendant than for Taylor.

“It was just as disrespectful as being sent to a hospital my daughter wasn’t at,” Palmer commented on how the prosecutor handled the case in court, according to ABC News. “I’ve never seen such a thing. I’ve never even heard of such a thing. It was disrespectful. It was heartbreaking. It shouldn’t have happened. And like I said, he didn’t know who I was.”

Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who was present on the night of the occurrence and shot back, stating he was unaware they were officers, expressed that he was grateful for what he described as a small step toward justice.

“Brett Hankison told me I was going to go to jail for the rest of my life, so I definitely feel some type of something to see him going — even if it’s a little time,” Walker said at the same media briefing.

Demonstrators protested the ex-officer’s 33-month sentencing in support of Breonna Taylor

According to WHAS, demonstrators blocked traffic in front of the courthouse in support of Taylor and her family. The scene outside resulted in four arrests, including Taylor’s aunt, Bianca Austin. It was reported that one protester climbed onto a Louisville Water truck, attempting to pass through the crowd.

Multi-hyphenate Tyler Perry is known for helping those in need, but even the most giving individuals must set boundaries with those closest to them.

The entertainment mogul appeared on Kirk Franklin’s YouTube series Den of Kings, with Derrick Hayes, the founder and CEO of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks and rapper Jeezy. He opened up about navigating the tension between family expectations and business demands, and how he maintains peace of mind in the process.

Perry built his media empire early in his career with the gun-toting, no-nonsense Madea, a character who first rose to popularity through his stage plays before expanding into film and television. As his success grew, family members often turned to him for help. While he cares deeply for his loved ones, he’s had to make tough decisions to protect his business, even when it involves someone close to him.

Is hiring family members a good idea?

Perry discussed his aunt and how he wanted to help her financially, but later had to let her go.

“I fired my aunt,” Perry admitted. “She said she wanted a job. She would always call, asking for money, asking for money. I’m like, ‘OK.’ I was sending the money,” he continued, adding, “‘Listen, I want to help you. I want to help you build this thing, not be welfare to you. So, let me give you a job,’” Perry explained. “She wasn’t coming in, calling in all the time, and I was like ‘OK, well you got to go’ because you want me to hand you the money, but you don’t want to work for it. See, that doesn’t work for me.”

Perry said he has also instilled that mindset into his 10-year-old son, Aman, teaching him that he can earn the things he wants through chores.

“I don’t believe in giving us things that are just going to handicap us,” he shared. “That is the worst thing you can do. And I’ve had family members that I’ve done that to because my mother has asked me to.”

On setting financial limits with family members

After his mother died in 2009, Perry said he sent letters to his family members explaining that he would be limiting the help and support they had come to rely on, saying, “Listen, you’ve got 60 days to become gainfully employed because I’m not going to keep supporting you like this.”

The tough love approach worked for his family, as they were able to find jobs and become more financially independent.

“They all got jobs,” he said. “And it wasn’t even jobs where they’re making a lot of money, but it was a job. It was something else for them to do to feel some pride in. That’s the same thing I would want somebody to do for me.” 

When Hayes, an entrepreneur, asked Perry if he had received backlash or resentment from his family members due to his success, he was honest in his response.

“I’ve had family members get mad at me ’cause I wouldn’t give them a million dollars,” Perry stated.

He later advised Hayes to focus on the goals he had set for himself, reflecting on how familial expectations can hinder someone’s growth and success due to the surrounding pressure.

“If you’re trying to build a business to carry everybody in your family through, that’s one thing. And if you’re trying to do that, then build a business. What that means is you’ve got to watch the family members that come putting holes in the boat that you’re trying to get across the sea,” Perry shared.

He continued, “Sometimes you build a boat by yourself. ‘Y’all all wait over here on the shore. Stay here. I’m building this boat,’ Perry advised. “I’m going to go over and build this, and then I’m going to come back and see who’s worthy to come because anybody who’s going to drag you down or put holes in the boat or try to destroy you, man, why bring them over?”

Watch the full episode below:

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The Trump administration has publicly released thousands of documents relating to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. despite objections from the King family over publicizing the information. The move to declassify the documents fulfills a campaign promise made by Trump to release information relating to the assassinations of King and President John F. Kennedy. The timing of the release, however, seems suspicious to many who accuse it of being a distraction from the lack of transparency concerning documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Thousands of documents but few major revelations

The New York Times reported that the National Archives published over 6,000 documents relating to the King assassination on its website Monday night. The documents amount to at least 230,000 pages of material, though King experts have so far concluded that the newly declassified material does not contain any major revelations about the King case. Although King was famously placed under extensive surveillance by the FBI during his life, recordings from those wiretaps were not included in Monday’s release; that information is set to remain classified until 2027. The newly released information did include one audio recording featuring excerpts from a law enforcement interview with Jerry Ray, a brother of King assassin James Earl Ray.

King family asks for understanding, ‘context’ concerning files

Monday’s declassification of the documents was done despite the King family objecting to the release of the information, which has been under seal since the FBI handed the files to the National Archives and Records Administration in 1977. Although the information was released without prior announcement to the public, the King family was given advance notice, and it reviewed the material prior to the release. King’s surviving children, 67-year-old Martin Luther King III and 62-year-old Bernice King, acknowledged in a statement that their father’s death has been “captivating public curiosity for decades” even as it remains “an intense personal grief” to them. “These files must be viewed within their full historical context,” they urged. In previous years, releases of information connected to the FBI’s surveillance of King have included sensational accusations, including alleged ties to the Communist Party USA or accusations of sexual impropriety. The King family and historians have either disputed these allegations or sought to place them in context to avoid letting them tarnish the legacy of the civil rights icon. In the context of the communist allegations, for example, a well-known King expert warned about these types of allegations. “Just because you see it in a top-secret document, just because someone had said it to the FBI, doesn’t mean it’s all accurate,” Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian David Garrow said, according to The Washington Post.

Possible attempt by Trump administration to distract from the Epstein scandal

The release of the files fulfills a campaign promise for Trump, who pledged to release information related to the assassinations of King and Kennedy. The lack of groundbreaking new information in Monday’s release is similar to the non-revelatory nature of the March release of files related to the assassination of Kennedy. Furthermore, the timing of Monday’s release has been met with skepticism, with many saying that this and other recent moves by the Trump administration have been attempts to distract from the growing scandal over the administration’s refusal to release information about the Epstein sex trafficking case despite Trump coming under scrutiny for his past friendship with the deceased convicted sex offender. Even Bernice King joined the criticism, tweeting a famous picture of her father giving a skeptical look alongside the caption “Now, do the Epstein files.”

As experts comb through the newly released King files, it seems possible but unlikely that they will reveal much about the civil rights leader’s life or his murder. The King files have also not stopped members of the public from demanding more information about Epstein, even as the Trump administration appears to be attempting to turn the public’s attention toward other matters.

A video of a traffic stop that occurred in Jacksonville, Florida, and involved a Black man is circulating across the internet for the egregious behavior exuded by the police officers involved.

As News4Jax reported, Will McNeil Jr. posted a recording from his dash camera of an encounter with authorities at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in February that resulted in him spending two days in jail. What can be seen in the clip is extreme force being used to remove him from his vehicle. He was left with injuries and a concussion due to the event and has hired civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels to represent him in his pursuit of justice.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office pulled over Will McNeil Jr. while he was driving home

The police report stated that McNeil was pulled over at 4:17 p.m. while on his way home because his car “did not have its headlights or tail lights illuminated in inclement weather,” per News4Jax. The 22-year-old said that he was inquiring why he was pulled over before he was attacked.

The report stated, “The suspect refused to comply and shut the driver’s door and locked it. I gave numerous orders to the suspect to provide his identification, which he refused.” Since McNeil couldn’t roll his window down (it was broken), he opened the driver’s door to communicate with the police officer.

The video shows McNeil calmly asking another officer on the passenger side to pull out the law that he was told he had violated.

“There’s multiple people’s headlights off, first of all. And there’s no rain,” McNeil addresses the officer, who is out of frame.

In response, the cop said, “It doesn’t matter, you are required to have your headlights on.”

When McNeil requested to see the law that states it again, the same officer said he’d show it to him after he got out of the car. He then requests a supervisor, prompting the off-camera officer to respond, “Go for it.”

Moments later, another JSO officer approaches and hits the driver’s side window three times, shattering it. As the officer shouts, “Exit the vehicle now! Exit the vehicle!” he strikes the driver in the face and then demands to see his hands.

McNeil exhibits no outward reaction to the punch and complies by showing his hands. The officer then opens the driver’s door, unbuckles the seatbelt, and as he’s being taken out of the car, McNeil asks, “What is your reasoning, sir?” Soon after, more officers come over to assist; he’s slammed to the ground and can no longer be seen.

The first officer who was at McNeil’s window wrote a different version of events in the report: “I gave the suspect several warnings that I was going to break the window and remove him from the vehicle if he did not comply with lawful commands. The suspect continued to refuse to comply, at which time I broke the driver’s window and opened the driver’s door.”

Crump and Daniels confirmed he sustained a concussion, a chipped tooth, needed stitches, and is experiencing short-term memory loss. Following the incident, he was taken to jail and later found “adjudicated guilty” of resisting an officer without violence and driving with a suspended license. Charges related to a seat belt violation and driving without headlights were dismissed. He was sentenced to two days in jail, which he had already served ahead of his arraignment.

“It should be obvious to anyone watching this video that William McNeil wasn’t a threat to anyone,” Crump said regarding the situation. “He was calmly exercising his constitutional rights, and they beat him for it.”

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released a statement about Will McNeil Jr.

In light of the video making headlines, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office gave News4Jax an exclusive statement: “The video that preceded the statement by the sheriff was brought to our attention earlier today. As it is Sunday, those who are responsible for reviewing instances such as this are not in the office. I am not sure when or where this incident took place, or who is involved – the individual sitting in the driver’s seat or the officers shown,” the spokesperson said. “As the sheriff stated, this incident and the circumstances surrounding what is shown in the released video will be reviewed to identify the questions you have asked below and more. As soon as we have those answers, we will be able to share more.”

After viewing the video, State Rep. Angie Nixon took to Facebook to acknowledge the incident and shared that she had already reached out to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for further information.”

“Hey folks. I’ve been tagged and sent the video regarding the the man getting beat up by JSO a few times today,” she wrote. “I’ve reached out to the Sheriff’s Office. I’ll be sending a formal letter and request to meet about that, the deaths in the jail and other cases related to potential JSO misconduct.”

The cop who struck Will McNeil Jr. was stripped of his duties

The incident remains under review by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Per ABC News, the cop who punched McNeil has been identified as D. Bowers; he’s currently on leave as the investigation is ongoing.

“McNeil was arrested and pled guilty to resisting a police officer without violence,” Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said, according to ABC News. “Force absolutely looks ugly, and because all force is ugly, whether or not the officer involved acted within outside JSO policy, that’s still what we’re investigating.”

He continued, “I will neither defend nor commend Officer Bowers’ response to resistance until all the facts are known and the investigation is completed.”

Bodycam footage was also released

The bodycam footage was also revealed, and as USA Today reported, shows “officers confronting McNeil – and punching him – after he questioned why he was pulled over and refused to get out of the car.”

Waters said at a news conference, “one video devoid of context can be very misleading,” and claimed that McNeil “was in possession of marijuana and officers found a knife in the vehicle.”

A member of the Royal Family is facing backlash for allegedly naming her two black sheep after tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. The royal family member at the center of the rumor is the wife of Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Michael of Kent. Prince Michael is also the son of Prince George and grandson of King George V. 

Princess Michael of Kent reportedly named her two black sheep after Venus and Serena Williams

The person who sparked the latest rumor about the royal family is an author named Aatish Taseer, who is the ex-boyfriend of Lady Gabriella Windsor (daughter of Princess Michael). Lady Gabriella is also King Charles’s cousin. Taseer, who was Lady Gabriella’s boyfriend for three years, told the story on Monday when he appeared for an interview on the Tell Me About Your Father podcast, Us Weekly reported. 

“I think the [story about] Venus and Serena was part of that weird air of abstraction that exists around these people and how they’re not even aware of how shocking or offensive that might be,” Taseer said on the podcast, per Us Weekly.

Taseer also told the story about the royal family’s sheep when he wrote a 2018 article for Vanity Fair.

“Princess Michael, though generally free of British colonial prejudices, and beyond reproach when it came to me, nevertheless invited trouble out of what felt like a desire to shock: her pair of black sheep in Gloucestershire were named Venus and Serena,” Taseer wrote at that time.

Why did Aatisha Taseer fall out with the Royal Family?

Taseer said he remained close with Princess Michael even after he broke up with Lady Gabriella, but his relationship with the Royal Family deteriorated after he came out as gay.

“I think once I came out and was married to a man, then it kind of, I don’t know. It’s one of those situations where it must have felt like a betrayal of our time together, even though it hadn’t felt like that [for me],” Taseer said on the Tell Me About Your Father podcast, per Us Weekly. “I always had relationships with men.”

Atlanta rapper Cash Out was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty on rape and RICO charges. Cash Out heard the verdict on Monday, along with his mother, Linda Smith, and cousin Tyrone Taylor, who are also found guilty of RICO charges. According to 11 Alive, Smith is sentenced to 30 years in prison, while Taylor is given life plus 70 years.

Per WSB-TV, a jury in Fulton County, Georgia reached the verdict on Friday, finding all three people guilty after they faced multiple charges connected to sex trafficking crimes.

The jury also determined that Gibson is guilty of rape, adding that Gibson is guilty on two counts of trafficking but not guilty on two other charges. Meanwhile, Smith is guilty on one count but not guilty on another count, the jury ruled. Additionally, Taylor is guilty of one count of trafficking, per the ruling.

Cash Out’s Alleged Victims spoke out after the rapper’s sentencing

The plaintiffs and their loved ones expressed their pain after hearing the sentencing on Monday. Per 11 Alive,  the family of one victim said the rapper used his fame and wealth to “steal their person.”

“Literally stole the souls of all the women they victimized,” the family said, per 11 Alive.

Some of the women also said they’re facing PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other harrowing conditions as a result of the crime.

“For the rest of my life, I will fear that he will kill me, all because I wouldn’t do what he wanted me to do,” one woman said.

What did prosecutors say about Cash Out’s sentencing?

Fulton County prosecutor Earnell Winfrey said Cash Out, who is legally known as John Gibson, was running a “house of horrors” with his mother and cousin. Winfrey told WSB-TV that the family deceived women and forced them into sex work.

“This has been going on for seven years,” Winfrey told the news station. “This ain’t just straight pimping—this is trafficking.”

Is there evidence against Cash Out and his family?

Text messages presented as evidence showed that Gibson and his co-defendants sold women and made arrangements to collect payment, WSB-TV reported. Prosecutors said they presented eight cell phones, which showed details of the operation.

Cash Out’s defense attorney, however, said there’s no evidence to prove that his client is connected to a trafficking enterprise. The attorney said the alleged victims were not forced to engage in sex work.

While Smith’s defense team also said she didn’t know about the trafficking activities, prosecutors presented payment receipts and property records to link her to the operation. The evidence also included a leased residence, where the victims were allegedly kept.