Source: United States Department of Justice News
Payton Jamar Brown, 26, is charged with sex trafficking and sexually exploiting children.
According to the complaint, in October 2022, investigators received a report from the Safe Harbor/Human Trafficking Coordinator at the Hamilton County Juvenile Court regarding a potential victim.
The victim and another juvenile female had been missing from separate cities in Indiana. Both of the16-year-olds were recovered from Brown’s residence on Niagara Street in Cincinnati.
It is alleged that Brown met the first minor victim on an online dating app, 3Fun.
Brown allegedly posted photos of the teenager to a website from June to October 2022 to advertise for sexual encounters. According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint, the victim had sex with numerous men for money, which was then given to Brown.
Additionally, Brown filmed sexual encounters with the teenager which they then attempted to sell to other individuals.
Brown also allegedly picked up the second minor in Indianapolis and brought her to his residence in Cincinnati.
Brown appeared in federal court in Cincinnati yesterday and has been ordered to remain in custody pending trial.
Sex trafficking a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. Sexually exploiting children is punishable by a range of 15 to 30 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Colerain Township Police Chief Edwin C. Cordie III; and members of the Regional Electronics and Computer Investigations (RECI) task force announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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