Connecticut Man Sentenced to 310 Months in Prison on Child Sex Trafficking Charges

WASHINGTON – Jarell Sanderson, of New Britain, Conn., was sentenced today to 310 months in prison on child sex trafficking charges, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David B. Fein of the District of Connecticut.

Sanderson, 31, pleaded guilty on Jan. 20, 2011, to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children and two counts of sex trafficking of children before U.S. District Judge Mark R. Kravitz in New Haven, Conn. Sanderson also was sentenced to five years of supervised release following his prison term.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Sanderson and co-defendant Hassanah Delia recruited two 14-year-old girls to work as prostitutes. In July 2009, Sanderson and Delia transported the girls to hotels in Hartford and East Hartford, Conn., where the girls engaged in sexual conduct with men in exchange for money that was paid either to Sanderson or Delia. The men who paid to engage in sexual conduct with the girls had responded to an advertisement placed on a website by Sanderson by calling a phone that was answered by Delia, who then set up appointments for the girls.

Delia, of East Hartford, Conn., pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion on Dec. 7, 2010. Delia’s sentencing is scheduled for June 23, 2011.

Sanderson will be required to pay restitution to the minor victims in an amount to be determined after further court proceedings.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick and Trial Attorney Alecia Riewerts Wolak of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the East Hartford Police Department.