CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for sex trafficking and abusing a 16-year-old girl.
RUBEN CARTER knew the girl was 16 years old when he caused her to engage in commercial sex acts over a four-month period in 2019. Carter took nude and explicit photographs of the girl and used them in online advertisements for sexual services. He then arranged for the girl to meet individuals for commercial sex in various locations in the Chicago area. The girl gave Carter all the money she received from the customers.
Carter often beat the girl and threatened to kill her if she did not comply with his demands. Carter also engaged in sex acts with the girl on multiple occasions, often recording the abuse on his cell phone.
Carter, 39, of Forest Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of sex trafficking of a minor. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold sentenced Carter to a term of 25 years in federal prison and ordered that it be followed by ten years of court-supervised release.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the Forest Park, Ill. Police Department.
“Ruben Carter targeted a vulnerable sixteen-year-old runaway, lured her into his orbit, and sexually exploited her for his own financial benefit,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Asheeka Desai argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s crimes were violent, exploitative, and incredibly serious.”
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678 or logging on to http://www.missingkids.com . The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Northern District of Illinois — U.S. Department of Justice press release.