CHICAGO – Joseph Hazley, 35, will spend the next 32 years of his life behind bars after a federal judge handed down a harsh sentence for arranging commercial sex encounters for a 16-year-old girl and related crimes. The case, which unfolded in the dark corners of Chicago’s underworld, culminated in a brutal tragedy and exposed the horrifying reality of online sex trafficking.
According to court documents, Hazley posted sexually explicit advertisements online featuring the girl, then orchestrated multiple meetings with paying customers throughout December 2016. The exploitation reached a sickening climax on Christmas Eve. Hazley drove the victim to Markham, Illinois, and coldly waited in his car while she met with a client in a nearby garage. That client allegedly murdered the girl. Chicago Police Department swiftly arrested the suspect and charged him with murder in Cook County Criminal Court – a separate case ongoing.
A federal jury earlier this year found Hazley guilty on federal sex trafficking charges. U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman delivered the 32-year sentence Tuesday, a clear message that such predatory behavior will not be tolerated. The sentence was jointly announced by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, John R. Lausch, Jr., and a coalition of law enforcement officials including FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey S. Sallet, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart, and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson.
“The defendant targeted young, vulnerable women to traffic and exploit,” stated U.S. Attorney Lausch. “Our office will continue to seek justice on behalf of sex trafficking victims for whom individuals like the defendant show no remorse.” Sheriff Dart echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the broader scope of the problem. “The horror of this case brought to light the plight of thousands of vulnerable young women, taken advantage of via online sex trafficking every year,” he said. “This sentence represents justice in this case and for all victims… including federal legislation against online sex trafficking and the shuttering of the largest online sex trafficking platform in the country.”
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Chicago FBI South Resident Agency and the Cook County Sheriff’s Police, with substantial assistance from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Markham Police Department, and FBI Field Offices in Tampa, Florida, and Cleveland, Ohio. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Parente and Kelly Greening prosecuted the case, building a solid case against Hazley and securing a conviction that sends a strong deterrent message.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual exploitation, help is available. Contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com/home or call 1-800-843-5678. The hotline is available 24/7. This case serves as a grim reminder of the predators lurking online and the urgent need for vigilance and support for vulnerable individuals.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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