CINCINNATI - A federal grand jury has charged Malik D.M. Bell, 23, of Cincinnati, with sex trafficking of children, production of child pornography and transportation of minors in an indictment that was unsealed today.
Benjamin C. Glassman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Field Division and West Chester Police Chief Joel Herzog announced the indictment, which was returned in March.
The indictment alleges that in April 2015, Bell caused a 15-year-old female victim to engage in a commercial sex act. He allegedly created an advertisement for the victim to engage in commercial sex and drove the victim from Kentucky to Ohio with the intent that the victim engage in prostitution.
Sex trafficking of children and transportation of minors are crimes punishable by a range of 10 years to life in prison. Production of child pornography carries a potential sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison.
Bell’s initial appearance occurred at 1:30pm today, at which time the case was unsealed.
Acting U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and West Chester Police, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey, who is prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
