East Hartford Men Charged with Sex Trafficking Minor Victim

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging JOEL LINDSAY, also known as “Joey Guapo,” 22, and JOSEPH PINA, 23, both of East Hartford, with offenses related to the sex trafficking of a minor.

Lindsay, a citizen of Jamaica, was arrested today and is detained in federal custody.  Pina is detained in state custody on unrelated charges.

As alleged in the indictment, in October 2019, Lindsay and Pina recruited, enticed and transported a minor victim to engage in commercial sex acts.

The indictment charges Lindsay and Pina with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  Lindsay is also charged with one count of sex trafficking of a minor, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarala V. Nagala.