Man Sentenced on Child Prostitution Charges

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that Christopher Black was sentenced today in federal court in San Diego by the Honorable Larry A. Burns to serve 68 months in custody and 5 years of supervised release following his release from prison based on Black's conviction for one count of Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of Children and one count of Coercion and Enticement of a Juvenile into Prostitution. Black pled guilty on December 4, 2008.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tenorio, who prosecuted the case, Black admitted that he recruited and enticed a juvenile to work for him as a prostitute between August 15, 2007 and October 11, 2007. Black also admitted that he took photographs of the juvenile wearing lingerie and in provocative poses, which 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 also admitted that he drove the juvenile to and from hotels where she performed the pre-arranged 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 as a member of a conspiracy that recruited, persuaded, and employed juveniles to perform acts of prostitution for the conspirators’ financial benefit. The conspiracy also charged co-defendants Jordan Arnold and Jessica King who have also entered guilty pleas; King is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5, 2009, and Arnold is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2009.

The Court remanded Black immediately into custody.

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)
Count 6 Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422(b) and 2 (Coercion and enticement of juveniles into prostitution)

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department

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