Scranton Man Sentenced To Six Years In Prison For Role In Sex Trafficking Conspiracy

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Justin Strait, age 26, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to six years in prison on December 13, 2016, by Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton, for his role in a sex trafficking conspiracy that used a minor to engage in prostitution at several hotels and motels in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Strait previously admitted that he assisted three other men in the sex trafficking activity during early-to-mid 2014. Strait pleaded guilty in July 2015.

Judge Munley also ordered Strait to serve five years on supervised release following his prison sentence. Strait must also register as a sex offender and comply with all sex offender notification requirements of federal and state law.

Three other men connected to the sex trafficking conspiracy have also pleaded guilty: Sean Cantelmo was sentenced to 151 months in prison; Jimmy Cantelmo was sentenced to 10 years in prison; and Mark Matis is awaiting sentencing.

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.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

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