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Buffalo Man Indicted on Sex Trafficking Charges
A Buffalo man has been indicted on sex trafficking charges, accused of forcing, coercing, and financially benefiting from the commercial sex acts of two adults and one minor.
The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury in Buffalo, charges Anthony Thompson, 34, a/k/a Fresh Tone, with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and sex trafficking of a minor.
According to the indictment, Thompson used force, fraud, or coercion to cause the victims to engage in commercial sex acts and would receive financial benefit from the commercial sex acts in which the victims engaged.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of $250,000. Thompson, who was arraigned on December 19, 2014, pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder and is being held pending a detention hearing on December 29 at 10:30 a.m.
The investigation into Thompson’s activities was led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Zack.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maura K. O’Donnell is handling the case. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Thompson is accused of the sex trafficking of two adults and one minor, between November 2012 and September 2014. The indictment further states that the defendant used force, fraud, or coercion to cause the victims to engage in commercial sex acts and would receive financial benefit from the commercial sex acts in which the victims engaged.
Thompson’s indictment is the culmination of a lengthy investigation into human trafficking in the Buffalo area. The case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of sex trafficking on victims and the importance of continued efforts to combat this crime.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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