A man was convicted of operating a sex trafficking and prostitution ring in New York and New Jersey while preying upon troubled teens, authorities said.
Michael Lamb, 35, of Newark, was found guilty after posting ads online trying to recruit female teens from Covenant House, a shelter service for runaway and homeless youth in New York and New Jersey, said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr.
“Like many sex traffickers, Michael Lamb targeted homeless and runaway teens, exploiting their vulnerabilities to maintain control,” said Vance. “He attempted to blackmail his victims into working for him, including by threatening to send nude photographs to family members and high school classmates, further isolating them from their communities.
Between January 2013 and September 2015, Lamb went on websites like Craigslist and Backpage to recruit victims, authorities said. He threatened to expose victims to their families and friends, as well as with physical violence, if they refused to work with him.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 12.
