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DISTRICT ATTORNEY VANCE ANNOUNCES SEX TRAFFICKING INDICTMENT

Leon Brown Also Accused of Raping and Assaulting Victim

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the indictment of LEON BROWN, a/k/a SEAN BROWN, 39, for forcing a victim to work as a prostituted woman, and for raping and assaulting her. BROWN is charged with three counts of Sex Trafficking, one count of Rape in the First Degree, two counts of Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree, and one count of Assault in the Second Degree.[1]
“Sex trafficking often victimizes our communities’ most vulnerable individuals,” said District Attorney Vance. “Sex traffickers silence their victims through violence, intimidation, and fear, but my Office is working with the NYPD and advocates to help these victims come forward. I encourage victims of sex trafficking to call my Office’s Human Trafficking Referral Tip Line at 212-335-3400.”

According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court, from approximately July, 2009 to December, 2011, BROWN recruited a victim to work for him as a prostituted woman. He used physical violence, threats of violence, and psychological manipulation to compel the victim to continue to work for him and turn over all the money she received. BROWN advertised multiple females for prostitution using online advertising on websites such as Backpage.com in order to locate potential clients. When the victim failed to follow the defendant’s rules or failed to bring him sufficient earnings from prostitution, he would strike the victim with his hands, belts, and sticks. He also withheld the victim’s permanent resident card and birth certificate in order to restrict her freedom of movement. BROWN also is charged with stabbing and raping the victim.

The investigation is continuing.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Fromkin is handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Martha Bashford, Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit and Assistant District Attorney John Temple.

[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defendant information:

LEON BROWN, a/k/a SEAN BROWN, D.O.B. 5/3/1972
Bronx, N.Y.

Charges:
• Rape in the First Degree, a class B felony, 1 count
• Sex Trafficking, a class B felony, 3 counts
• Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

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