January 23, 2015

Maryland Man Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 20 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking and Transporting a Minor Interstate for the Purpose of Prostitution

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JABAR GILLIAM was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 20 years in prison for trafficking a 16 year-old girl (the “Victim”) from Maryland to the Bronx and forcing her to engage in prostitution. GILLIAM was convicted of one count of sex trafficking of a minor by means of force, fraud or coercion and one count of transporting a minor interstate for the purpose of prostitution in September 2012 following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Griesa and a jury. GILLIAM was sentenced today by Judge Griesa.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Jabar Gilliam forced a young woman into prostitution, and repeatedly subjected her to abuse of all kinds and threats, in effect terrorizing her physically and emotionally. Gilliam deserved a heavy punishment and that is what he received. I would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York Police Department, and the Maryland State Police Department for helping this Office prosecute and punish those who perpetrate the heinous crime of sex trafficking of minors.”

According to the evidence at trial and documents filed in the case:

In October 2011, GILLIAM recruited the Victim to travel to New York to work for him as a prostitute. In addition to physically and sexually assaulting her, Gilliam threatened both the Victim and her family if she did not continue to work for him. In December 2011, GILLIAM traveled with the Victim from Maryland to New York, and thereafter, he arranged for her to engage in commercial sex acts with various individuals. GILLIAM set the prices for the commercial sex acts, and kept all of the money for himself. While in New York, he also continued physically, sexually and psychologically abusing the Victim. On December 2, 2011, GILLIAM was arrested as he and the Victim were returning to the apartment in the Bronx where he had prostituted her earlier that day.

In addition to the prison term, GILLIAM, 32, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was sentenced to five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,100 to the Victim.

Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Maryland State Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy J. Greenberg is in charge of the prosecution.