Crime

Boston man sentenced for sex trafficking a minor

“Unequivocally, our communities are safer with [Jimall Dawn Brown] behind bars, locked away where he can’t victimize anyone else.”

Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Jodi Cohen said it was imperative that FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force take Jimall Dawn Brown “off the street.” AP Photo/Steven Senne

By Lindsay Shachnow

July 25, 2024

A Boston man was sentenced on Monday for trafficking a minor for sex and coercing multiple women to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution, authorities say.

Jimall Dawn Brown, 35, was sentenced to 135 months, or more than 11 years, in prison followed by five years of supervised release, according to a statement from the United States Attorney’s Office. He pleaded guilty in April to federal charges of sex trafficking of a minor, transporting an individual in interstate commerce with the intent that they engage in prostitution, and two counts of persuading and coercing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution.

“No one, especially no child, should have to fear this type of horrific conduct, and our office and our state and federal partners will not rest while human trafficking remains such a pernicious and destructive problem in our society,” Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy said in the statement.

In 2022, Brown trafficked a 17-year-old to engage in commercial sex acts after meeting her on social media and convincing her to fly to Boston, promising her a “better lifestyle,” the statement said.

In 2019, authorities say that Brown coerced a woman to travel from Connecticut to Boston to engage in prostitution, where he said he could “provide a better, luxurious life” for her.

And three years before, Brown persuaded a third victim to leave Pennsylvania for Massachusetts, telling her he had a modeling agency and he wanted to employ her, officials say.

Brown posted photos of the victims online advertising them for sex, and he required them to give him all the money they made, the statement said.

“Jimall Brown exploited, trafficked and abused three young women, including a child, for his own financial gain,” Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, said in the statement. “Unequivocally, our communities are safer with Brown behind bars, locked away where he can’t victimize anyone else.”