A Bronx man has been indicted on kidnapping and sex trafficking charges for allegedly selling teenagers for sexual purposes, Bronx County District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said Tuesday. In addition, he was charged with rape charges in connection with the attack on a 14-year-old girl.
Shamel Jones AKA Shy, 25, was charged with kidnapping, sex trafficking of a child, promotion of prostitution, rape, among others.
According to the investigation, on April 28, 2022, officers were searching for a missing 14-year-old girl at Hotel 95 located in 1275 Pugsley Avenue in the Bronx. Hotel staff informed investigators that the missing teen was last seen in a hotel room with Jones.
When they arrived at the room, officers allegedly found the defendant with a 17-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl, who was not the missing teen they were initially looking for. They also recovered several phones containing nude images of the teens. The images were posted online, allegedly in an attempt by the defendant to traffic the two minors.
Surveillance video allegedly showing the missing 14-year-old girl entering the hotel with Jones and the two girls previously found by police was also recovered. The defendant allegedly raped that 14-year-old girl at the hotel. She was later found by investigators.
“The defendant allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl and trafficked at least two other teens at a Bronx hotel. Thanks to the work of the officers of the 43rd Precinct and the NYPD anti-trafficking squad, several girls were saved from the vicious cycle of trafficking,” said District Attorney Clark.
The defendant was placed on remand and is due back in court on June 29, 2022.
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