Pennsylvania man charged with sex trafficking a minor

HARRISBURG – A Pennsylvanian man was charged Tuesday with participating in conspiracy to have a minor engage in prostitution after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) investigation.

Justin Strait, 26, from Scranton, Pennsylvania allegedly conspired with others to use a minor female to engage in prostitution at various motels in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties during February through August 2014.

The criminal information filed alleges that Strait and/or his co-conspirators recruited the minor to engage in prostitution, rented motel rooms for purposes of prostitution, provided condoms to the minor, photographed the minor and posted advertisements for “escort services” on a website, provided illegal drugs to the minor, and acted as security during prostitution activities.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

Indictments and criminal informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.