Christopher Hamlett, also known as “Cadi” and “Cadillac Black,” is behind bars on federal charges for sex trafficking a minor in Hartford, Connecticut. The 24-year-old was arrested today and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez, who ordered him detained pending a court hearing scheduled for February 15.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hamlett allegedly coerced a minor into prostitution between August and November 2017, forcing her to perform at hotels across the Hartford area. The victim, in a statement to investigators, said Hamlett initially gave her a cut of the earnings but quickly seized full control—taking all the money and threatening her when she pushed back.
“He took all of my money,” the victim said. “If I complained, he told me, ‘It’s business. I have things that cost money. Just do as you’re told or I can make you disappear. No one is going to look for you.’” The threats, investigators say, were enough to keep the minor trapped in a cycle of exploitation.
Law enforcement alleges Hamlett actively managed the trafficking operation, advertising the victim’s services on online platforms, including the now-shuttered Backpage.com. The posts were crafted to lure buyers while concealing the victim’s age and the coercive force behind the operation, federal prosecutors say.
Hamlett faces one count of sex trafficking of a minor, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life if convicted. U.S. Attorney John H. Durham emphasized that the complaint is an allegation, and Hamlett is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation was led by the Hartford Police Department through the Connecticut Human Trafficking Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarala V. Nagala and Nancy V. Gifford are prosecuting the case, building what federal officials call a textbook example of urban child exploitation with digital facilitation.
Related Federal Cases
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- Bridgeport’s ‘King Sincere’ Gets 14 Years for Child Sex Trafficking · Washington
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- Joel Lindsay, Joseph Pina Charged in Minor Sex Trafficking Ring · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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