Leon Blount III, a Boston man who pleaded guilty to trafficking a 17-year-old girl in three states for sex, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy. Blount was arrested in September 2022 after driving the girl from Massachusetts to New York and Connecticut to engage in prostitution. He met the girl while she was living at a group home for teenagers and exploited her vulnerable situation for financial gain.
Blount was ordered to pay $214,500 in restitution to the victims and will also serve five years of supervised release after his prison term. He pleaded guilty to three counts of transporting a minor with the intent of engaging in criminal sexual activity. Special Agent in Charge Michael Krol of Homeland Security Investigations in New England stated that Blount’s actions caused significant harm to the victim and the community.
Blount provided the girl with alcohol and cannabis before driving her to various locations to solicit sex buyers. He took explicit photos of her and posted them on websites to attract more clients. Despite the girl’s fear and discomfort, Blount forced her to engage in sexual acts to maximize his profits. The victim eventually became scared of Blount after witnessing his violent actions towards another trafficker’s victim.
The sentencing of Blount signifies a victory for the law enforcement and victim support services who worked tirelessly to bring him to justice. This case serves as a reminder of the prevalence of human trafficking in our communities and the importance of holding traffickers accountable for their crimes.
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