The indictment alleges that in April 2015, Bell caused a 15-year-old female victim to engage in a commercial sex act. He allegedly created an advertisement for the victim to engage in commercial sex and drove the victim from Kentucky to Ohio with the intent that the victim engage in prostitution.
“The offense mostly occurred in a West Chester hotel. West Chester Police started the investigation,” said Jennifer Thornton of the Department of Justice Southern District.
In addition to West Chester Police, the FBI and Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey, who is prosecuting the case, were part of the investigation.
It is believed Bell had been living recently in Dayton, but it is not known where he was living at the time of his arrest, Thornton said.
Sex trafficking of children and transportation of minors are crimes punishable by a range of 10 years to life in prison. Production of child pornography carries a potential sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison.
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