Crime

Boston man pleads guilty to sex trafficking a minor

Jimall Dawn Brown, 35, will be sentenced in July.

April 9, 2024

1 minute to read

A Boston man pleaded guilty Monday to trafficking a 17-year-old girl he met on social media and coercing two women to travel across state lines for the purpose of prostitution, authorities announced.

Jimall Dawn Brown, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor; one charge of 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, the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement. He was indicted on the charges in November.

Prosecutors said Brown met the 17-year-old, who was living outside of Massachusetts, on social media in 2022 and convinced her to come to Boston with claims of a “better lifestyle.” Once she arrived in Boston, he allegedly kept her from leaving by threatening her and beating her, and advertised her online, arranging for her to have sex for money and taking her to Nevada for that purpose, keeping the money himself.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said Brown also coerced two women, in 2019 and 2016, to travel to Massachusetts to engage in prostitution, promising a “luxurious life” or that he would provide for them upon their arrival. When the women arrived in the state, he posted photos of them on websites advertising commercial sex. Prosecutors said he coerced the women into performing commercial sex and then forced them to give him all the money.

“Jimall Dawn Brown lured this child into his clutches, with the promise of a better life, specifically to abuse and exploit her,” Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, said in a statement. “It will be a gratifying day when his sentence is handed down and the cell door shuts behind him so he can’t victimize anyone else.”

Brown is facing up to life in prison for the charge of sex trafficking of a minor; he could see up to an additional 30 years for the other charges.

Brown will return to court for sentencing in July.