Crime
Prosecutors stated Keion Rowell started prostituting the 15-year-old runaway shortly after assembly her in January 2021.
A Canton man was convicted Thursday on prices of intercourse trafficking a 15-year-old runaway by posting on-line intercourse adverts, prostituting her, and pocketing the cash, in response to the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace.
Keion Rowell, 24, was arrested and charged in April 2022 and indicted by a federal grand jury in Might 2022. A jury deliberated for 4 days this week earlier than discovering Rowell responsible of trafficking the woman, in response to officers.
He will probably be sentenced on Dec. 11 and faces a compulsory minimal sentence of 10 years in jail, with a most sentence of as much as life in jail, 5 years of supervised launch and a tremendous of $250,000.
Appearing Massachusetts U.S. Lawyer Joshua S. Levy stated Rowell preyed on {the teenager} by grooming her after which trafficking her and taking the cash.
“This conduct is despicable and has no place in a civilized society,” Levy stated in a information launch. “Intercourse trafficking causes immeasurable bodily and long-term emotional struggling, and this workplace will proceed to work tirelessly to hunt justice for the courageous survivors.”
Investigators stated Rowell met the sufferer on Jan. 18, 2021, shortly after she had run away from her suburban Boston house. Quickly after, Rowell posted quite a few on-line business intercourse adverts that contained nude photographs of the sufferer, and instructed her that she must have intercourse in trade for cash. Prosecutors stated Rowell communicated with “intercourse consumers” and despatched the sufferer to fulfill with males to have intercourse in trade for cash, which he pocketed.
On Jan. 28, 2021, 10 days after the sufferer had been reported lacking, police performed an undercover operation to rescue her. Investigators stated she had Rowell’s telephone which contained photographs of her and Rowell, details about his private financial institution accounts, hyperlinks to on-line commercials for business intercourse and communications with intercourse consumers. Prosecutors stated Rowell used Venmo and Money App accounts for his transactions with consumers.
Rowell had additionally opened an internet “Meet Me” account for the sufferer that marketed intercourse with the woman and instructed her on how a lot she ought to cost, prosecutors stated.
“Keion Rowell compelled a 15-year-old baby into sexual servitude, for his personal greed and monetary acquire,” stated Jodi Cohen, Particular Agent in Cost of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Whereas FBI Boston’s Youngster Exploitation — Human Trafficking Activity Drive can’t erase the hurt he’s accomplished, we’ve made him reply for it. We thank the jury for bringing justice for his sufferer and guaranteeing Mr. Rowell can’t declare anymore.”
Authorities urged anybody impacted by or experiencing business intercourse trafficking to contact [email protected].
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