San Diego Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Trafficking Charges

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that Christopher Black entered a guilty plea today in United States Magistrate Court in San Diego to one count of Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of Children and one count of Coercion and Enticement of a Juvenile into Prostitution. Black tendered his guilty plea before United States Magistrate Judge Louisa S. Porter, subject to final acceptance by United States District Court Judge Larry A. Burns at the time of sentencing.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tenorio, who is prosecuting the case with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Black admitted that he recruited and enticed a juvenile to work as a prostitute for his financial benefit between August 15, 2007 and October 11, 2007. Black admitted that he took photographs of the juvenile wearing lingerie and in provocative poses that were then placed in ads posted on the “Craigslist” website to solicit dates. The dates, however, were prostitution “johns” who responded to the ads and made arrangements to have sex with the juvenile in exchange for payment. Black drove the juvenile to and from hotels, where she performed the prearranged acts of prostitution. Black further admitted that he received all of the proceeds the juvenile received in exchange for acts of prostitution.

According to court documents, Black was charged in a ten-count superseding indictment with various offenses committed in 2007 along with co-defendants Jordan Arnold and Jessica King. Arnold and King are scheduled for trial on the superseding indictment in United States District Court on February 3, 2009, before the Honorable Larry A. Burns.

Sentencing for Black is scheduled for February 17, 2009 at 9:30 a.m., before Judge Burns.

DEFENDANT Case Number: 08CR0274-LAB
Christopher Black, Age: 21

SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1 Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371, and 1591 (conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of children)
Maximum penalty: 5 years in custody; 3 years of supervised release; $250,000 fine
Count 6 Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422(b) and 2 (coercion and enticement of juveniles into prostitution)
Minimum penalty: 10 years in custody (where the victim has not obtained18 years of age)
Maximum penalty: life in custody; 5 years of supervised release; $250,000 fine

AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department

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