Antonio Ballard Sentenced to 210 Months in Federal Prison
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK - Antonio Ballard, 26, of Binghamton, New York, was sentenced to serve 210 months in federal prison to be followed by a twenty (20) year term of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Andrew W. Vale, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Ballard will also be required to register as a sex offender once he has completed his federal prison term. Today’s sentence was in connection with Ballard’s conviction after trial in March of 2016 on eight (8) counts relating to operating a sex trafficking and prostitution business involving three minor girls.
The evidence at trial showed that Ballard, from August of 2014 through December of 2014, in Broome County, New York, knowingly persuaded, used, recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, and maintained three minor girls for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts and prostitution with men. Ballard benefitted from prostituting these minors by receiving 50% of the proceeds, for which he provided physical security and an apartment where the minors met with clients. Ballard also photographed the three minor girls and assisted in posting advertisements on Backpage.com, an internet advertisement site.
The case was investigated by the FBI, New York State Police, and the Binghamton Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Miroslav Lovric.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
