Sisters Sentenced in Sex Trafficking Case

   ROCHESTER, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jerese Blue, 27, and Chellsie Blue, 24, both of Rochester, N.Y., who were convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. Chellsie Blue was sentenced to 72 months in prison and five years supervised release. Jerese Blue was sentenced to 108 months in prison and five years supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who handled the case, stated that the sisters recruited two child victims to engage in commercial sex acts. In April 2012, the defendants posted ads on Backpage.com to advertise the victims as “escorts.” Chellsie and Jerese Blue then transported the victims to meet with customers and engage in commercial sex acts. The defendants also used their residences on Arnett Boulevard in Rochester for the minors to engage in commercial sex acts.

“It has been often said that sex trafficking is a form of modern day slavery,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “The fact that the defendants here compelled two children into this dark world only adds to the egregiousness of the crime.” 

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli.