Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to sex trafficking a minor
SCRANTON, Pa. — A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to sex trafficking a minor following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Sean Cantelmo, 28, admitted to conspiring with others to have a 17-year-old female engage in prostitution and illegal sexual activity during February through May 2014. Cantelmo admitted that he and others used a cell phone to post advertisements for “escort services” involving the minor female on a website, rented motel rooms in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties to facilitate the prostitution activities, and purchased condoms for the minor to use when engaging in commercial sex acts.
Cantelmo was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2014 as a result of an investigation by HSI and the Pennsylvania State Police.
“Sex trafficking a minor is one of the most heinous crimes against the victim and society,” said John Kelleghan, HSI Philadelphia special agent in charge. “We will continue to work with our local law enforcement partners to identify victims of this terrible crime and bring these criminals to justice.”
The federal judge ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed and scheduled Cantelmo’s sentencing for May 5, 2015. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of life in prison.
Every year, thousands of vulnerable persons, including women and children, are trafficked into the United States, threatened and beaten, and forced to perform services of a sexual nature against their will. Every year, thousands of workers and laborers are exploited and abused by employers. The exploitation of vulnerable individuals is an affront to fundamental human rights and will not and cannot be tolerated.
ICE is one of the primary federal agencies responsible for combating human trafficking. ICE works with its law enforcement partners to dismantle the global criminal infrastructure engaged in human smuggling and human trafficking. ICE accomplishes this mission by making full use of its authorities and expertise, stripping away assets and profit incentive, collaborating with U.S. and foreign partners to attack networks worldwide and working in partnership with nongovernmental organizations to identify, rescue and provide assistance to trafficking victims.
If you notice suspicious activity, please contact HSI through its tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or www.ice.gov/tips.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.
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