Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking a Minor

BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday to trafficking a minor for sex and persuading and coercing multiple women to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution.

Jimall Dawn Brown, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor; one count of transporting an individual in interstate commerce with the intent that they engage in prostitution; and two counts of persuading and coercing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for July 9, 2024. Brown was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2022.

“Jimall Brown is one of far too many people this office has prosecuted for human trafficking. The pattern is remarkably predictable and it is happening far too often right here in our backyard. Brown promised his victims a better life, but in reality, he exploited them for his financial gain, selling them for sex repeatedly,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “No child or person must ever be treated this in this dehumanizing manner. This Office will not cease in our efforts to prosecute individuals who engage in human trafficking.”

“Jimall Dawn Brown lured this child into his clutches, with the promise of a better life, specifically to abuse and exploit her,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “It will be a gratifying day when his sentence is handed down and the cell door shuts behind him so he can’t victimize anyone else. FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force will never stop working to find and help trafficked victims, to prevent them from further abuse, and keep their traffickers from hurting anyone else.”

“The scars borne by sex trafficking victims are certainly emotional, often physical, and always long-lasting. Targeting traffickers and bringing them to justice is a vitally important mission for law enforcement and a major benefit to society itself,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden.

In 2022, Brown trafficked a 17-year-old, identified as Victim 1, to engage in commercial sex acts. He first met the victim, who was living outside Massachusetts, on social media and convinced her to fly to Boston, with promises of a “better lifestyle.” Brown posted advertisements of Victim 1 online and arranged “dates” for Victim 1 to have sex in exchange for money. Brown set the pricing for the commercial sex acts she engaged in, for which he collected all of the money. In April 2022, Brown transported Victim 1 to Nevada, again arranging for her to engage in commercial sex and keeping all the money.

In March 2019, Brown persuaded and coerced a another woman, identified as Victim 2, to travel from Connecticut to Massachusetts to engage in prostitution. He met her in Connecticut and told her that she had potential and that he could provide a better, luxurious life for her if she would come to Boston, where he lived. Victim 2 came to Massachusetts and Brown posted online advertisements containing photos of Victim 2 on commercial sex websites. Victim 2 engaged in commercial sex and was required to give all of the money she made to Brown.

In May 2016, Brown persuaded and coerced a different woman, identified as Victim 3, to travel from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts to engage in prostitution. He contacted Victim 3 on social media, told her that she was beautiful, that he had a modeling agency, and that he wanted to work with her. Brown said he would pay for her plane ticket to fly to Boston and provide everything for her once she arrived. Victim 3 traveled by plane from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. After she arrived, Brown took photos of her, purportedly for modeling, but instead he posted them on websites advertising commercial sex. Brown then coerced and forced Victim 3 to engage in commercial sex in Massachusetts and required her to give him all the money.

If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov. 

The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of transporting a person for purposes of prostitution provides for a maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of persuading and coercing a person to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution provides for a maximum of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Each count also provides for mandatory restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; FBI SAC Cohen; DA Hayden; and  Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Arlington and Randolph Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit is prosecuting the case.