Canton man convicted of sex trafficking after sharing nude photos of teenage girl in sex ads

A Canton man was convicted Thursday of sex trafficking a 15-year-old runaway by posting sex ads online, prostituting her and pocketing the money, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Keion Rowell, 24, was arrested and charged in April 2022 and indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2022. A jury deliberated for four days this week before finding Rowell guilty of trafficking the girl, according to officials.

He will be sentenced Dec. 11 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

Acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levy said Rowell preyed on the teenager by grooming her, then trafficking her and taking the money.

“This conduct is despicable and has no place in a civilized society,” Levy said in a press release. “Sex trafficking causes immeasurable long-term physical and emotional suffering, and this office will continue to work tirelessly to achieve justice for courageous survivors. »

Investigators said Rowell met the victim on Jan. 18, 2021, shortly after she ran away from her suburban Boston home. Shortly after, Rowell posted numerous online sex advertisements containing nude photos of the victim and told her she should have sex in exchange for money. Prosecutors said Rowell communicated with “sex buyers” and sent the victim to meet men for sex in exchange for money he pocketed.

On January 28, 2021, 10 days after the victim was reported missing, police conducted a sting operation to rescue her. Investigators said she had Rowell’s phone that contained photos of her and Rowell, information about her personal bank accounts, links to online advertisements for commercial sex and communications with sex buyers . Prosecutors said Rowell used Venmo and Cash App accounts for his transactions with buyers.

Rowell also opened an online “Meet Me” account for the victim that advertised sex with the girl and told her how much she should charge, prosecutors said.

“Keion Rowell forced a 15-year-old child into sexual servitude, for his own greed and financial gain,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “While the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in Boston cannot undo the harm it has done, we have held it accountable. We thank the jury for bringing justice to his victim and ensuring that Mr. Rowell has no further claims.

Authorities urged anyone affected or victimized by commercial sex trafficking to contact (email protected).