BOSTON – A Canton has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with sex trafficking a minor.
Keion Rowell, 23, was indicted on one count of sex trafficking of a child. Rowell was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on April 14, 2022.
“Mr. Rowell is alleged to have targeted a 15-year-old girl and groomed her to engage in commercial sex for his personal profit,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “This type of behavior by adults, overwhelmingly men, is far too common. I am starting a Human Trafficking Unit within the United States Attorney’s Office so we can investigate and charge these predators that profit off of people’s trauma and pain. The scale and scope of the Human Trafficking problem has reached epic proportions. We will spare no resource to protect our communities, our children, and our Commonwealth from this growing threat.”
“Too many of our children are falling victims to sex trafficking and are suffering from untold physical and emotional harm at the hands of accused predators like Keion Rowell,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “That’s why every day, FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force is fiercely focused on working with our law enforcement partners to free victims from this abusive life while locking up those who exploit them.”
According to the charging documents, on Jan. 28, 2021, agents recovered a 15-year-old girl who had been reported missing approximately 10 to 14 days previously after she left her home in a suburb of Boston. It is alleged that the victim’s phone contained nude and revealing photos of the victim, online advertisements for commercial sex that included pictures of the victim, as well as Venmo and Cash App accounts registered to Rowell. Rowell allegedly opened an online “Meet Me” account for the victim that advertised commercial sex with the victim and instructed the victim on how much she should charge. It is further alleged that the Rowell required the victim to engage in commercial sex acts multiple times and took the proceeds.
Members of the public who believe they may be a victim of this alleged crime should contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
The charge of sex trafficking of a child provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston and Randolph Police Departments and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Gotlob of Rollins’ Civil Rights Enforcement Team and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Tochka are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.