A Boston man has received a sentence of over 11 years in prison for his crimes involving the trafficking of a minor across state lines for commercial sex. Leon Blount III, 31, was handed down the 136-month sentence by U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs, alongside five years of supervised release, according to a release from the Department of Justice.
In what has been denounced by acting U.S Attorney Joshua S. Levy, human trafficking demeans human dignity. "The unimaginable harm inflicted upon the minor victim here is far too prevalent in our communities," told the publication, condemning this violation.
Details of the case revealed Blount had preyed upon the vulnerabilities of a 17-year-old, identified only as Jane Doe 2, coercing her into performing sex acts in New York and Connecticut. His recruitment began while the victim was residing in a Massachusetts group home for transitional age adolescents. Using substances such as alcohol and marijuana, Blount enabled Jane Doe 2's dependency to facilitate her exploitation.
While under Blount's control, the minor was made to solicit in areas known for commercial sex. According to a statement obtained by DOJ's announcement, Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England noted, "Human traffickers use isolation, threats, and financial exploitation to control their victims, making it incredibly difficult to leave – but there is hope and there is help available."
The prosecution of this case was an effort of the Department's Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Fogerty. To those who might be affected by or are encountering similar circumstances of commercial sex trafficking, resources and information are available at the Polaris Project's website, with the organization actively providing support to survivors and those at risk.
