WHITE PLAINS – Federal authorities have arrested a Mount Vernon man on charges of sex trafficking a minor and using interstate facilities to promote sex trafficking and prostitution.
It is alleged that in January and February of this year, Rai Thomas, 27, recruited a minor to engage in commercial sexual activity and caused her to do so on several occasions in hotels in the Bronx and Brooklyn.
Authority said his involvement included coordinating transportation to and reserving rooms in hotels, advertising to customers on websites, and profiting from the sex trafficking scheme.
Thomas has been charged with sex trafficking a minor, which carries a prison sentence of from 10 years to life, and use of interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity, which carries up to five years in prison.
Assisting in the investigation were the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, Town and City of Poughkeepsie Police, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and New York City Police.
