Rochester Man Pleads Guilty To Sex Trafficking Charge

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., announced today that Brandon McNeal, 24, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who is handling the case, stated that McNeal conspired with others to recruit a minor female, knowing she was under the age of 18, to engage in commercial sex acts. Between July and August of 2015, the defendant had a minor female working for him as a prostitute. McNeal posted ads for the female on Backpage.com, an internet classified advertising website. The defendant also arranged for her to meet her customers at a Motel 6 and he paid for the hotel room.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes the Rochester Police Department, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 16, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.