Harry E. Rivers, Child Sex Trafficking, DE 2023

Harry E. Rivers, a 29-year-old from Delaware known as “Hakeem” and “Pots,” was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for conspiring to traffic a 15-year-old girl into commercial sex acts. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar handed down the sentence in Baltimore, Maryland, followed by five years of supervised release. The case exposes a brutal network of coercion, drugs, and violence stretching across state lines.

Rivers conspired with Steven M. Williams, 39, of Delaware, and Jessica L. Schaefer, 24, of Pennsylvania, to exploit the minor girl, referred to in court documents as Girl 1. The girl, a Pennsylvania resident living with her father in Delaware, was pulled into a cycle of sexual exploitation fueled by crack cocaine and debt. Schaefer, who posted commercial sex ads online, and Girl 1 began performing sex acts to pay off what they owed Williams — who supplied the drugs and collected every dollar earned.

Williams orchestrated the trafficking operation, renting hotel rooms under his name or the names of johns, while Rivers provided narcotics to the victims and their clients and helped arrange “dates.” In July 2017, Williams drove Girl 1 to Elkton, Maryland, isolating her from Schaefer. There, another victim, identified as AH, was forced to post ads featuring Girl 1 on websites used to solicit commercial sex — including the sexual abuse of minors.

Girl 1 was made to perform sex acts in Maryland, turning over all proceeds to Williams, who physically abused her when he suspected she was withholding money. He also brandished a firearm to intimidate her. On July 13, 2017, Girl 1 attempted to escape and hid in AH’s motel room. In response, Rivers, Williams, and Schaefer drove from Newark, Delaware to Elkton to retrieve her. Armed and threatening, Rivers and Williams used their firearms to intimidate AH, while Schaefer, wielding a taser, stormed the room and dragged Girl 1 out against her will.

After being taken back to Delaware, Girl 1 remained trapped in the trafficking ring until July 14, when AH reported the abduction to police. Law enforcement located and rescued Girl 1 in Newark the following day. All three defendants were arrested. Steven M. Williams, also known as “Brother Ray” and “Ray,” pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a child by force, fraud, and coercion, and is set for sentencing on May 17, 2019. Jessica L. Schaefer, aka “Tutti,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child and is scheduled for sentencing on June 6, 2019. Both face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

As part of their plea agreements, Rivers, Williams, and Schaefer will be required to register as sex offenders wherever they live, work, or study. U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur stated bluntly: “When an adult profits from sex with a child, that is human trafficking, period. Adults like Harry Rivers who encourage or profit from the sexual exploitation of children face lengthy terms in federal prison, where there are no suspended sentences and no parole.” The case was investigated by the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office and the Elkton Police Department, underscoring the federal crackdown on interstate child exploitation rings.

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