Richard Purnell, Sex Trafficking of Children, Ohio 2023

A Parma man was convicted of sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl in a heinous crime that has left the community shaken.

Richard Purnell, 54, was convicted by a jury of sex trafficking of children in a case that involved the repeated exploitation of a minor.

The crime came to light when images of the 14-year-old girl were posted on the website backpage.com by Ronnie Pratt, who has since pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges and is awaiting sentencing.

Purnell continued to engage in commercial sex acts with the girl even after she told him she was only 14 years old, according to trial testimony.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bridget M. Brennan and Linda Barr following an investigation by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force.

The task force is comprised of the FBI, Adult Parole Authority, Cleveland Metro Housing Authority, Cleveland Police Department, and Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, with the Parma Police Department providing substantial assistance to the successful investigation.

Purnell is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13, and will likely face an appropriately lengthy prison sentence for his crimes.

“Those who prey on our children, whether selling them or buying them, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows,” said U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon.

Purnell is currently in custody pending sentencing, where he will face the full weight of the law for his heinous crimes.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/parma-man-convicted-child-sex-trafficking