Boston Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking and Transporting a Minor with Intent to Engage in Commercial Sex

BOSTON – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment yesterday charging a Boston man with sex trafficking a young adult victim and transporting a minor to New York and Connecticut to engage in commercial sex.

Leon Blount III, 30, of Boston, was charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and three counts of transportation of minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Blount has been in state custody since September 2022. He will appear in federal court in Boston on Jan. 19, 2023.

“Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. Whether labor or sex trafficking, if someone is profiting off of a person they control through threat, force or coercion, they are committing a felony. We allege that Mr. Blount targeted two victims – one of whom was a minor – whom he groomed and trafficked to engage in commercial sex across multiple states and used extreme violence to keep one of his victims under his control,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and, with the perseverance and bravery of the victims, our dedicated Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit will spare no expense or resource to protect our communities, our children, and our Commonwealth from this growing public health threat.”

“HSI New England, and our law enforcement partners, are constantly watching closely for indicators of human trafficking and child exploitation throughout our community,” said Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Today's indictment is a result of those partnerships and the watchful eyes of all of the dedicated agents and officers involved in this case.  HSI New England will continue to work tirelessly to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved human trafficking enterprises in order to keep our communities safe.”

According to the charging documents, beginning in the Fall of 2021, Blount began grooming a young adult victim, Jane Doe 1, to engage in commercial sex. First, Blount allegedly pressured Jane Doe 1 to create pornographic videos that were distributed online. Later, he allegedly insisted that Jane Doe 1 earn money for him by performing commercial sex acts. Jane Doe 1 was posted on websites that advertise commercial sex and Blount allegedly drove her throughout Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut to perform sex acts for his financial benefit.

It is further alleged that, to maintain control, Blount threatened to harm Jane Doe 1 if she ever left his trafficking operation. In September 2022, when Blount learned that Jane Doe 1 was trying to leave his control, Blount allegedly threw a rock through the window of the car Jane Doe 1 was sitting in and tried to pull her out of the car while spraying her in the face with pepper spray. Blount allegedly then got into the car and drove over Jane Doe 1's leg, severely injuring her, as she tried to flee. It is alleged that after Jane Doe 1 was taken to the hospital, Blount broke into her apartment and wrote, “B**** ya not safe” on the wall. Shortly thereafter, Lowell Police arrested Blount, and he has remained in custody since that time.

Additionally, according to the charging documents, between July and August 2022, Blount transported a 17-year-old victim, Jane Doe 2, to New York and Connecticut to engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit. Blount allegedly met Jane Doe 2 while she was living at a group home for transitional age adolescents. He gave her alcohol and marijuana, and quickly recruited Jane Doe 2 to travel out-of-state to engage in commercial sex. While in New York, Blount allegedly directed Jane Doe 2 to solicit sex buyers in an area of Brooklyn known for commercial sex. It is further alleged that Blount caused Jane Doe 2's photo to be posted on websites that advertise commercial sex and put her in hotel rooms in Woburn and Hartford, where he directed her to perform sex acts to earn money for him.

The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Each count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact [email protected]. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please visit https://polarisproject.org/ for information and resources.

U.S. Attorney Rollins and HSI SAC Millhollin made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Fogerty of Rollins' Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.