A Boston man has copped to the heinous crime of trafficking a teen girl across state lines for sex, officials said. Leon Blount III, 31, entered a guilty plea to three counts of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, as per an announcement made by federal prosecutors.
Blount, who has been behind bars since September 2022, adamantly agreed to face consequences for his role in this sordid operation in which he shuttled a 17-year-old from Massachusetts to New York and Connecticut. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs has set the stage to decide his fate at a sentencing slated for April 24, according to a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.
The guilty plea shines a light on the grim practice of human trafficking. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy stated, "Human trafficking is not just a crime, it is a profound violation of human dignity. The unimaginable harm inflicted upon victims is happening too frequently in our communities." He expressed the dedication of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit to pursue traffickers and support survivors.
Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England, pointed out the disturbing pattern that Blount's actions represent. "Blount admitted today that he sought out and took advantage of a vulnerable young woman and limited her freedom," said Krol. This admission comes not too long after the trafficker was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of the prior year.
Blount's criminal actions spanned over a period last summer, coercing 'Jane Doe 2', a minor from a Massachusetts group home, to sell herself for his profit. The 17-year-old was given alcohol and marijuana before being advertised online and forced to take part in commercial sex in various locations, including a known hotspot in Brooklyn for such activities.
The charge against Blount carries a stern mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years with the potential of life behind bars, a supervised release for no less than five years after imprisonment, and the possibility of a $250,000 fine. The final sentence will be imposed by Judge Burroughs based on federal sentencing guidelines.
For those affected by commercial sex trafficking or know someone who is, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts urges contact via their email [email protected] for support and assistance. The case is currently being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Fogerty of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit.
