David B Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JARELL SANDERSON, 31, of New Britain, pled guilty yesterday, January 20, before United States District Judge Mark R Kravitz in New Haven to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children and two counts of sex trafficking of children. According to court documents and statements made in court, SANDERSON and co-defendant Hassanah Delia recruited two 14-year-old girls to work as prostitutes. In July 2009, SANDERSON and Delia transported the girls to hotels in Hartford and East Hartford, where the girls engaged in sexual conduct with men in exchange for money that was paid either to SANDERSON or Delia. The men who paid to engage in sexual conduct with the girls had responded to an advertisement placed on a website by SANDERSON by calling a phone that was answered by Delia, who then set up appointments for the girls.
On December 7, 2010, Delia, of East Hartford, plead guilty to two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. “Prostituting children is a heinous crime, and the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to prosecuting those who exploit children,” stated United States Attorney Fein. “I want to thank the FBI, East Hartford Police, and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section for their tremendous efforts in bringing these defendants to justice.” “As a result of the joint efforts of the FBI, East Hartford Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office on this priority investigation, this guilty plea will assure that this offender will no longer be in a position to endanger children,” stated Kimberly K Mertz, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Judge Kravitz scheduled sentencing for April 12, 2011, at which time SANDERSON faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of life imprisonment.
SANDERSON also will be ordered to pay restitution to compensate the victims of his crimes. Delia also awaits sentencing. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the East Hartford Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David E Novick and Trial Attorney Alecia Riewerts Wolak of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice.
Reported by: FBI
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