March 5, 2010 - Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford has returned an indictment charging JARRELL SANDERSON, 30, of New Britain, and HASSONAH DELIA, 23, of East Hartford, with two counts of sex trafficking of children; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children.
According to the indictment and statements made in court, between July 14 and 17, 2009, SANDERSON and DELIA are alleged to have recruited and forced two 14-year-old girls to engage in commercial sex acts at hotels in Hartford and East Hartford.
The indictment was returned on February 25, 2010, and unsealed yesterday by United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford after SANDERSON and DELIA were arrested.
SANDERSON and DELIA have pleaded not guilty to the charges. They are detained pending trial.
If convicted of the charges, the defendants face a maximum term of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000, on each count.
U.S. Attorney Dannehy stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial at which it is the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the East Hartford Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David E. Novick.
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