NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A Brooklyn man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to sex trafficking two 16-year-old girls, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced.
The Flatbush man, 36-year-old Steven Bell, met one of the 16-year-old victims after she left a residential facility outside of New York City in October 2020, according to court documents.
Bell convince the teen to engage in prostitution for him, posting sexually suggestive pictures of her online advertising sex for money with the help of a female accomplice who has yet to be caught, authorities said.
The victim was forced to abide by a series of rules for how she should walk, talk, act, and dress laid out by Bell. He also took all of the money she was paid, according to officials.
In late October, the victim contacted another 16-year-old she knew from a different facility to meet up in Brooklyn with her and Bell. He then posted sexually suggestive pictures of the second teen online too, offering sex in exchange for money. Bell also posted provocative pictures of both teens together in online advertisements.
The sex trafficking went on until December 2020 when the NYPD was tipped off and began investigating.
“This defendant took advantage of two vulnerable children to make himself money. Child exploitation for sex is a real and persistent problem and I remain committed to investigate, vigorously prosecute and hold accountable anyone who engages in this appalling and harmful conduct.”
Along with a 10 year prison sentence, Bell was also sentenced to five years post-release supervision and will have to register as a sex offender.
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