The crisis of sex trafficking of children has become epidemic in the U.S. and we find it right here in our state where the police were able to rescue a young girl in Milford, CT. Victims like this young girl will require a lot of supportive care. Pimps use the Internet to attract their victims. In fact the Internet has been called the crime scene of the 21st century.
Keontrae Lawrence
MILFORD – A 15 year-old girl, reported missing and endangered in another state, was rescued by police Wednesday from a room at the Howard Johnson Motel.
The man with her, Keontrae Lawrence, 27, of Maplewood, N.J., was taken into custody and is being held on a $250,000 bond as the investigation continues, said Officer Joseph Dempsey, the department spokesman.
The girl was taken to an area hospital for a medical evaluation, Dempsey said.
Detectives in the motel room found “evidence of prostitution,” he said, along with bags of powdered cocaine, crystal meth and cash.
Lawrence has an extensive out-of-state criminal history, the Milford police spokesman said. The case is being investigated as a possible human trafficking incident; the city police have an officer assigned to the newly-formed Connecticut Human Trafficking Task Force, Dempsey said.
The suspect has been charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics, possession of crystal meth, promoting prostitution and risk of injury to a minor.
