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Press Release

Philadelphia Pair Charged With Sex Trafficking

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

LizMarie Rivera-Torres, 24, and Anthony Ferris, 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were charged today by Indictment with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors, and sex trafficking of minors, announced Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.

The Indictment alleges Rivera-Torres and Ferris conspired with each other to engage in the sex trafficking of minors between July 22, 2016 and January 20, 2017. The Indictment further alleges that Rivera-Torres and Ferris engaged in the sex trafficking of two particular minors, during two different periods alleged in the Indictment.

If convicted as charged, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment, supervised release for a minimum term of five years and a lifetime maximum term, a $750,000 dollar fine, mandatory restitution, and a $300 special assessment.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth Schlessinger.

Updated April 13, 2017

Topic
Project Safe Childhood