A Toledo man was sentenced to 35 years in prison for sex trafficking involving a minor.
Lawrence Jones, 32, previously pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Jones met a minor via social media who had run away from home. Jones transported the girl to a home on Coventry Avenue in Toledo, where he took nude photographs of her and posted them online, offering commercial sex acts in the Toledo area in January, according to court documents.
The minor performed approximately 25 commercial sex acts, with all the money going to Jones. The minor told Jones several times that she was not yet 18 years old, according to court documents.
“This defendant preyed on a vulnerable child for his own financial gain,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “We will continue to work to prosecute people who treat children like property.”
“This child predator is deserving of this lengthy prison sentence, 35 years behind bars where he will not have access to children,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said. “The FBI will continue working this repulsive violation to ensure individuals sexually violating children are held accountable to fullest extent of the law.”
