HARTFORD, CT – Jason Prawl, 29, of Bridgeport, known on the streets as “Boots,” admitted today to the horrific crime of sex trafficking a minor. Prawl pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea, bringing a dark chapter in Bridgeport’s underbelly to light. The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Deirdre M. Daly, announced the guilty plea, a small victory in a long fight against exploitation.
Court documents paint a chilling picture of Prawl’s operation. Beginning around December 2015, Prawl systematically recruited, harbored, and transported a 17-year-old female, forcing her into commercial sexual acts. His residence became a site of abuse, and the victim was subjected to approximately four clients *per day* for roughly 30 days. The predator monetized her vulnerability with cold calculation.
Prawl didn’t hide his crimes; he advertised them. Utilizing the notorious website Backpage.com, he openly marketed the minor victim’s services. The price list was brutal in its efficiency: $80 for a mere 10 to 15 minutes, $100 for a half-hour, and a staggering $150 for an hour of exploitation. From each encounter, Prawl pocketed approximately $20, while also skimming funds for gas and other expenses when he drove the victim to off-site appointments.
This wasn’t a fleeting act of desperation. This was a calculated enterprise. Prawl’s greed extends beyond this single victim. He has agreed to pay $2,500 in restitution to the first minor and a further $10,080 to a second victim of his prostitution ring, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior. He has been held in detention since his initial arrest on related state charges back on March 9, 2016 – a small measure of justice while awaiting sentencing.
Judge Shea has scheduled sentencing for July 31, 2017. Prawl now faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years behind bars, but the potential penalty reaches for a lifetime – a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. This case serves as a stark reminder of the horrors of human trafficking and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to bring predators like Prawl to justice.
The investigation was a collaborative effort by the Connecticut Human Trafficking Task Force, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Connecticut State Police, Bridgeport Police Department, and Milford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarala V. Nagala and David E. Novick are prosecuting the case, ensuring that Prawl will answer for his heinous crimes. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.
Related Federal Cases
- Bridgeport Man Faces Sex Trafficking Charges for Minors · Connecticut
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- Waterbury Predator Eastman Admits Skype Sex Abuse · Connecticut
- Bridgeport Predator Gets 6 Years for Gun, Silencer Abuse · Connecticut
- Bridgeport’s King Sincere Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking a Teen · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking|Sex Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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