Supreme Court reinstates sex trafficking, forced labor conviction of 'S&M Svengali'

WASHINGTON – WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has reinstated the sex-trafficking and forced-labor conviction of a man dubbed the "S&M Svengali."

The justices voted 7-1 Monday against Glenn Marcus, who was convicted after a sensational trial that dealt with mutilation and extreme humiliation.

The high court overturned a ruling by the federal appeals court in New York that Marcus' conviction violated the Constitution because he was convicted of breaking a law, the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act, that wasn't in place when some offenses happened.

Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the majority, said the prospect was remote and did not require throwing out Marcus' conviction. Justice John Paul Stevens dissented.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor took no part in the court's consideration of the case. She was on the appeals court panel that ruled in Marcus' favor and joined in the panel's decision. But she wrote separately to suggest that the ruling, though required by a string of 2nd Circuit cases, might not be in line with the Supreme Court's view of the case.

Marcus was sentenced to nine years in prison for abusing a woman he photographed for his website, which reveled in sadomasochism. She was identified only as "Jodi."

The case is U.S. v. Marcus, 08-1341.