U.S. man condemned sex trafficking for New York college students

U.S. man condemned sex trafficking for New York college students. 

NEW YORK: On Wednesday, a U.S. man was found guilty of sex trafficking and other offenses after coercing Sarah Lawrence College students in New York state to perform unpaid work for him, including prostitution.

Lawrence Ray, 62, is accused of employing physical violence and threats of criminal legal action to extort money from students at Sarah Lawrence Institution, a private college north of New York City, between 2010 and 2020. According to authorities, Ray moved into his daughter’s college dorm room in 2010.

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Ray was arrested in 2020 and charged with extortion, forced labor, sex trafficking, and money laundering. He pled not guilty. After a month-long trial in federal court in Manhattan, where multiple victims testified, he was found guilty.

According to prosecutors, Ray allegedly coerced one female victim to participate in commercial sex acts and pay him more than $500,000 in prostitution revenues. 

According to prosecutors, Ray amassed sexually graphic images of her and almost smothered her to force her to execute the crimes.

Prosecutors claimed he also used psychological and physical torture to compel three more female victims to undertake unpaid labor.

“Larry Ray is a scavenger. A wicked man who committed evil acts. Today’s verdict brings him to justice for the first time, “In a statement, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated.