Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
A jury has found Rai Thomas, 31, of Mount Vernon, New York, guilty of sex trafficking a minor and using interstate facilities to promote sex trafficking and prostitution. The verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton and FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office Christopher G. Raia. U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román presided over the trial.
“Crimes relating to sexual abuse of minors are among the most heinous crimes in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Rai Thomas’s actions were particularly egregious because he targeted a teen in crisis and preyed on her when she was at her most vulnerable. This Office is dedicated to protecting the children of New York. This conviction should serve as a lesson: if you target a child—any child—the prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners will bring you to justice.”
FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia stated: “Rai Thomas organized an elaborate sex trafficking scheme across the city to repeatedly exploit a minor victim simply to enrich himself. Thomas targeted an especially vulnerable minor, enticing her into commercial sex work with utter disregard for her wellbeing. The FBI will never tolerate any individual who advertises and uses children as sexual objects to fill their own piggy banks.”
Evidence presented during the trial showed that between January and February 2022, Thomas trafficked a minor identified as Minor Victim-1 for commercial sexual activity at multiple hotels in the Bronx and Brooklyn, New York. At that time, Minor Victim-1 lived in a children’s group home. Thomas enticed her into commercial sex acts, arranged transportation to various hotels, booked hotel rooms where she met customers, advertised her online for commercial sex services, and profited from these activities.
Thomas was convicted on two counts: sex trafficking of a minor—which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and up to life—and use of interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity—which can result in up to five years imprisonment.
Sentencing is set for February 13, 2026 before Judge Román.
Jay Clayton commended investigative efforts by multiple agencies including the FBI’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, and NYPD.
The prosecution was managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Qais Ghafary, Kaiya Arroyo, and Jorja Knauer from the White Plains Division with support from paralegal specialists Gabriela Salerno, Samantha Olsen, and Shannon Becker.
