Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth R. Moellering, who is handling the case, stated that the defendants were part of a multi-state prostitution business that sent female victims to cities and states across the Eastern United States to engage in commercial sex acts. As part of that business, Li and others posted advertisements on Backpage.com to set up meetings between clients and prostitutes in Tonawanda, NY and other cities and states. Guo acted as a driver for the prostitution business, driving the females to hotels where they would engage in commercial sex acts. Guo also collected the proceeds of the illicit prostitution business. Li assisted in the running of the business by posting the advertisements, arranging for the travel of the females, and receiving the money that represented was the profits of commercial sex acts.
“By their guilty pleas, the defendants admitted that theirs was a business plan which linked their bottom line to their ability to promote and facilitate the sexual exploitation of their workers," noted U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “These felony convictions represent the just return that defendants have earned for investing themselves in such a morally bankrupt venture."
“The guilty pleas acknowledge the defendants primary roles in a sex trafficking scheme with multiple victims," said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly. “HSI will continue to work with every stakeholder engaged in the effort to ensure traffickers are brought to justice and victims get the support they need."
The pleas are the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; the Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jerome C. Uschold III; the New York Police Department, under the direction of Chief James P. O’Neill; the South Portland, Maine Police Department, under the direction of Chief Edward Googins; and the Fairview Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jason C. Loper.
Defendant Guo’s sentencing is scheduled for March 19, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. and defendant Li’s sentencing is scheduled for April 9, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., both before Judge Vilardo.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
