{"id":22968,"date":"2016-04-28T17:45:53","date_gmt":"2016-04-29T00:45:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=22968"},"modified":"2016-04-28T17:49:40","modified_gmt":"2016-04-29T00:49:40","slug":"22968-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=22968","title":{"rendered":"Pimp Convicted in Federal Court of Sex Trafficking Seven Girls, Victims Punched in Face and Whipped with a Belt"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"U.S.LOS ANGELES<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A jury found a Gardena man \u00a0guilty of 14 felony counts for trafficking seven girls who worked as prostitutes, several of whom worked under threats of force, fraud or coercion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Laron Carter<\/strong>, also known as \u201cBirdd\u201d and variations of that moniker, 39, was found guilty Wednesday afternoon by a federal jury in Los Angeles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following a five-day trial, the jury convicted Carter of seven counts of sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion, and seven counts of transporting a child to engage in prostitution.<\/span><\/p>\n

The evidence at trial showed that Carter trafficked girls as young as 13 and subjected some of them to beatings, which included victims being punched in the face and whipped with a belt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips <\/strong>scheduled sentencing\u00a0on July 18. <\/span><\/p>\n

At sentencing, Carter is facing up to life without parole.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe evidence at trial showed that Mr. Carter bragged about being a \u2018pimp,\u2019 and that he forced girls through violence and coercion to sell their bodies for his profit,\u201d said U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker<\/strong>. \u201cNo child should ever be subjected to this type of exploitation, which will forever haunt them and immeasurably alter their lives. This prosecution demonstrates law enforcement\u2019s commitment to combating human trafficking on multiple fronts, including both traffickers like Carter and customers, while supporting the victims of exploitation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The case against Carter stemmed from the rescue of a 16-year-old girl in 2013. The victim told investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. <\/span>Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations that she had been recruited by Carter to travel from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. <\/span><\/p>\n

When she arrived in Southern California, Carter forced her into prostitution. <\/span><\/p>\n

As part of his activities, Carter took this victim to a hotel in El Segundo and advertised her services on backpage.com. The victim \u201cran away at one point, but she found herself lost with no money and returned,\u201d according to a trial memorandum filed in this case. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen she returned, defendant beat her and whipped her with a belt for leaving.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After this victim was rescued, investigators located six other girls \u2013 one of whom was only 13 \u2013 who had been coerced or physically forced into prostitution by Carter between 2003 and 2010.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the trial, the jury saw Facebook postings in which Carter described himself as a \u201ccross country pimp\u201d who worked for \u201cPimpin International.\u201d The jury also saw photos of tattoos with the \u201cBirdd\u201d moniker that victims were forced to get, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis verdict and the possible life prison sentence it carries should give solemn pause to anyone considering selling minors for sex,\u201d said Joseph Macias, special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles<\/strong>. \u201cThose who sexually exploit young people for financial gain show that greed has no bounds. HSI will continue to work closely with its law enforcement partners and prosecutors to protect those who cannot protect themselves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A jury found a Gardena man guilty of 14 felony counts for trafficking seven girls who worked as prostitutes, several of whom worked under threats of force, fraud or coercion.
\nLaron Carter, also known as \u201cBirdd\u201d and variations of that moniker, 39, was found guilty Wednesday afternoon by a federal jury in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18209,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-main-slider","category-u-s-department-of-justice"],"yoast_head":"\nPimp Convicted in Federal Court of Sex Trafficking Seven Girls, Victims Punched in Face and Whipped with a Belt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A jury found a Gardena man guilty of 14 felony counts for trafficking seven girls who worked as prostitutes, several of whom worked under threats of force, fraud or coercion. 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