Feds: Pa. Man Turns Girlfriends, Including A Minor, Into Prostitutes
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Federal prosecutors in Philadelphia have jailed a city man on sex trafficking charges, saying he forced two women and a minor girl into prostitution after first dating them.
An attorney for 28-year-old Jerel Jackson did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the grand jury indictment Thursday.
The FBI contends Jackson operated a prostitution business out of Philadelphia hotels and had prostitutes pictured nude or scantily clad in ads on the website backpage.com.
Authorities alleged Jackson collected money after each sexual encounter by the women and would sometimes strip-search or choke the women to ensure they weren't holding back cash.
Jackson was charged with three counts of sex trafficking by force, including one count involving a female under 18.
He faces at least 15 years in prison if convicted.
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