Edward Thomas, Sex Trafficking, Connecticut 2012

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New York Man Convicted Of Sex Trafficking Of Minors

A New York man has been convicted of sex trafficking minors, according to a conviction announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Connecticut. Edward Thomas, also known as "Fire," 40, of New York, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and two counts of sex trafficking of a minor.

The trial began on January 15, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny. According to the evidence presented, Thomas recruited and enticed two minor girls to travel from Oregon to New York to work as prostitutes for him. The girls, ages 16 and 17 at the time, were forced to turn over all of the money they earned to Thomas.

Thomas was convicted of forcing the girls to see customers for commercial sex acts in Milford, Connecticut. He also recruited one of the girls a second time in July 2013 and again paid for her travel from Oregon to the East Coast. The FBI and local police recovered the girl from a hotel in Milford in 2013.

"This defendant preyed on the vulnerabilities of two girls whom he lured 3000 miles away from their homes," stated U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly. "The U.S. Attorney Office is committed to prosecuting individuals who manipulate minors into committing sexual acts – often under the threat of violence – and profit handsomely from this illegal and reprehensible conduct."

Thomas faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. He has been detained since his arrest on February 28, 2014. On November 10, 2014, his co-defendant, Kayla Walters, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and awaits sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Child Exploitation Task Force, with assistance from the Stratford and Milford Police Departments. The Connecticut Child Exploitation Task Force investigates crimes against children occurring over the Internet and provides a platform for federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to share information and coordinate efforts to combat child exploitation.

Edward Thomas, Crime: Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and two counts of sex trafficking of a minor, City: New York, State: Connecticut, Date: January 15, 2015 (trial began), Sentence: Faces 10 years to life in prison, Money involved: None mentioned, Additional facts: Also known as "Fire," 40, of New York, Detained since arrest on February 28, 2014.