A New York City man, Sherriff Cooper, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for the crimes of sex trafficking a minor, and forced labor. According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Cooper was also ordered to pay $97,200 in restitution to his victim.
Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton handed down the sentence in a federal court in Boston. In February 2024, Cooper was convicted of charges including sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud and coercion; transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; and forced labor. Notably, the jury found that Cooper had begun to sex traffic the victim nearly every day and forced her to work in a strip club.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy said, "Sherriff Cooper viciously and cruelly exploited a vulnerable minor who was half his age – taking advantage of his position of trust to abuse her into submission. When he lost his job, Mr. Cooper decided he would rather sex traffic a vulnerable child for financial gain than seek legitimate employment – all the while physically abusing and threatening her. Her bravery and courage in holding this defendant accountable is truly remarkable. Mr. Cooper’s refusal to accept any responsibility for his crimes or show remorse for the lifelong harm he inflicted underscores why he is truly deserving of this significant sentence". According to U.S. Attorney's Office.
Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, emphasized the severity of the situation, "No child should ever be subjected to sex trafficking, especially by someone in a position of trust." In another illustration of the gravity of the crimes, the report detailed how Cooper transported the victim across state lines and forced her to strip, taking all her earnings. Even after Cooper impregnated her, the victim was compelled to continue under the threat and use of violence, as reported by the Attorney's Office.
Cooper's relationship with the victim commenced while he was working as a security guard at a residential program for pregnant teens. He met the victim, a 15-year-old pregnant minor, who had run away from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families custody. When he later found himself unemployed, Cooper chose to exploit the victim for his financial gain rather than seeking legitimate work, according to the federal prosecutors.
Contact information for assistance was provided as [email protected]. Special assistance in the case was acknowledged by the FBI New York Field Division and the Arlington and Malden Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Torey B. Cummings, Stephen W. Hassink and Lauren A. Graber of the Criminal Division.
