Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking Minors
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Marcus Brown, 25, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to two counts of sex trafficking of minors. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Marangola and Meghan McGuire, who handled the case, Brown ran a sex trafficking operation with co-defendant, Ray Davis. Brown and Davis preyed upon and exploited teenagers who were homeless and vulnerable, coercing them to engage in commercial sex acts. Davis and Brown worked together to take sexually explicit photos of the minor victims and post them on Backpage.com, an online classified advertisement website that was previously shut down.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
Defendant Marcus Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Siragusa. Co-defendant Ray Davis was convicted by a federal jury and sentenced to serve 25 years in prison.
Rules of the investigation were not disclosed but the case highlights the dangers of online exploitation. Victims are often vulnerable and desperate for help, making them easier targets for predators. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and awareness in today’s digital age.
For more information, contact Barbara Burns at (716) 843-5817 or (716) 551-3051.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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