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Jamaica man pleads guilty to sex trafficking

Jamaica man pleads guilty to sex trafficking
By Gina Martinez

A 22-year-old Jamaica man pleaded guilty to sex trafficking after forcing a 15-year-old girl into having sex for money earlier this year, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Robert Schwartz indicated he would sentence Hakim Jones to a term between three and four months years to ten years in prison at his sentencing Jan. 11, 2017.

“The defendant has pleaded guilty to having threatened and forced a teenage girl into having sex dates with men for money,” Brown said. “I want to stress that prostitution is not a victimless crime. Sex trafficking is an incessant act of brutality and degradation. This teenage girl was able to get away, but she will have to live with the horror of this experience for the rest of her life.”

According to the charges, the 15-year-old victim left a group home in Manhattan with a friend in January and was picked up by a man and taken to Queens. In Queens she was introduced to Jones who told her, “You’re gonna be my bitch,” and refused to let her go, Jones took photos of the victim and posted advertisements for sex on backpage.com, Brown said.

According to the charges, for several weeks the 15-year-old was forced to have sex in exchange for money at several hotels in Queens and other boroughs, as well as Long Island. The victim had to turn over all her money to Jones.

According to the DA, the entire time the girl was prostituting herself Jones threatened her with physical violence, telling her he had a gun. In March, the victim resisted after finding out she had 17 dates lined up, Jones punched her in the mouth, causing bleeding and swelling, Brown said.

Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmartinez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.