Rochester Man Pleads Guilty To Sex Trafficking Charge

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Otis Willis, Jr., 33, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The plea was entered during the trial of this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany H. Lee and Bradley Tyler, who are handling the case, stated that between January 2012 and August 2012, the defendant conspired with Tiffany St. Denis to entice a female victim under the age of 18 to engage in commercial sex acts. Specifically, St. Denis posted ads for the female victim to engage in prostitution and Willis paid for hotel rooms at a Red Roof Inn. 

Tiffany St. Denis has been convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force which includes the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the Rochester Police Department, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 10, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.