Former Hartford Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking of a Minor

Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that Kamar James, also known as “Sean Steppa,” “Sean Lawson,” and “Akamar Lawson,” 31, a citizen of Jamaica last residing in Hartford, was sentenced on October 9 by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for sex trafficking of a minor.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2011, James recruited a minor victim whom James knew to be under the age of 18 to engage in prostitution. On multiple occasions, James transported the minor victim from Connecticut to streets in New York City where the victim would meet men who would pay her for sexual encounters. James also posted pictures of the minor victim on the Internet to advertise the victim’s prostitution services. He then transported the victim to hotels in the New York City area when the victim engaged in pre-arranged prostitution encounters. The victim turned over all the proceeds from the prostitution encounters to James.

Judge Bryant ordered James to pay restitution of $12,750 to his victim.

James has been detained since his arrest on February 3, 2012. On June 27, 2013, he pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.