Long Island Man Accused Of Sex Trafficking Of Minors

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A West Hempstead man was indicted Thursday on multiple charges involving the sexual trafficking of minors, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Joshua Lampley-Reid faces charges of sex trafficking, coercion, enticement of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, transportation of child pornography and interstate prostitution. He was expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon.

"As alleged, through violence, coercion and manipulation, the defendant exploited and demeaned both underage and adult female victims by forcing them to engage in commercial sex acts and posting sexually explicit photographs of them on the internet," Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District Mark Lesko said in a statement.

Lampley-Reid trafficked victims on Long Island, including at motels in East Meadow, Freeport and Rockville Centre, and in Florida and Maryland, according to court documents.

"Lampley-Reid lured young girls, some as young as 15, with romantic gestures," Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge Peter Fitzhugh said in a statement. "Once he had them in his grip, it’s alleged that he enslaved these girls and used violence to force
them to work as prostitutes for his insidious gain."

If convicted of sex trafficking of a minor, Lampley-Reid faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years behind bars and a maximum of life in prison. He could face an additional 15 to 30 years in prison if convicted of producing child pornography.