Harris Hickman, 33, of Rochester, NY, is behind bars for 188 months after being sentenced for the sex trafficking of a 15-year-old minor—a crime that exposed the brutal underbelly of online exploitation. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford handed down the sentence, marking the end of a years-long federal case that laid bare how Hickman weaponized the internet to profit from the abuse of a child.
Hickman’s conviction, secured in a federal courtroom in Rochester, stems from actions taken in March 2014, when he posted explicit photographs of the teenage victim on Backpage.com, knowing full well the child’s age and the intended purpose—prostitution. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, Hickman didn’t just facilitate the crime—he actively benefited from it, taking a cut of the money earned from the minor’s exploitation.
The case was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cyber Crimes Task Force, which has increasingly focused on digital platforms used to traffic minors. Under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, agents traced digital footprints, ad postings, and financial transactions that tied Hickman directly to the exploitation. Their work was bolstered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, led by Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero, whose team specializes in cross-jurisdictional trafficking networks.
Backpage.com, once a notorious hub for illicit adult advertising, has been the focal point of numerous federal prosecutions. Though the site was shut down in 2018, cases like Hickman’s highlight how traffickers used its infrastructure to victimize minors with near impunity during its peak. Prosecutors emphasized that Hickman’s use of the site wasn’t incidental—it was central to his criminal enterprise.
Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. made the sentencing announcement, underscoring the Justice Department’s commitment to pursuing those who prey on vulnerable youth. “This sentence sends a clear message,” Kennedy stated. “Exploiting a child for profit is a federal crime, and we will use every tool available to bring perpetrators to justice.”
Hickman now begins his 188-month federal prison term with no room for early release on this charge. The case stands as a grim reminder of how predators manipulate technology to victimize the youngest and most defenseless, and a testament to the federal agencies working to dismantle these networks one conviction at a time.
Related Federal Cases
- Adrian Smith Admits to Attempted Sex Trafficking of Minor · Pennsylvania
- Raymond Aigbekaen Gets 15 Years for Sex Trafficking Minor · Maryland
- Reysean Williams Sentenced in Minor Sex Trafficking Case · Massachusetts
- RAUL ROMERO-GRANADOS Charged in Brutal Sex Trafficking Ring · New York
- Thurman Stanley Faces Sex, Drug Trafficking Charges · Iowa
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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