Columbia man indicted on sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material charges
Image: Department of Justice (D.O.J.)
Image: Department of Justice (D.O.J.)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– A federal grand jury in Columbia has indicted a man on 22 counts in relation to sex trafficking, said the DOJ.
Leon-Bobby Jones-Hubbard, 31, of Columbia, has been charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; two counts of sex trafficking of a minor; nine counts of production and attempted production of child sexual abuse materials; nine counts of coercion and enticement of a minor into illegal sexual conduct; and one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material.
The indictment alleges that from at least June 2023 until present time, Jones-Hubbard used social media platforms including Facebook to target, recruit, and exploit 10 minor victims who ranged from 5 to 16 years old and were located in Arkansas, Michigan, Alabama, Wisconsin, and Texas.
The indictment further alleges the defendant paid money through Cash App, PayPal, and Meta Pay to induce and entice minors into illegal sexual conduct, including sex trafficking and the production of child sexual abuse material.
Investigators said an adult with a severe developmental disorder was also targeted and exploited by Jones-Hubbard using an intermediary to coerce the victim into sex acts through physical restraint, physical force, and violence in exchange for money, according to the indictment.
Jones-Hubbard faces a penalty of up to life in prison.
He also faces mandatory minimum penalties of 15 years, 10 years, and five years in prison on various counts charged.
He faces fines of up to $250,0o0 per count, a special assessment of $5,000 per count, mandatory restitution payable to any victims who suffered loss in connection with criminal conduct, court-ordered supervision of life to follow any term of imprisonment, and federal and state sex offender registration requirements.
Jones-Hubbard was arraigned in federal court on Thursday, Jan. 23 and was ordered to be detained pending a detention hearing before a United States judge on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
