Human Trafficking Investigation Ends in Conviction NR16157dm

Los Angeles: On May 6, 2016, the
Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations-South Bureau Human
Trafficking Task Force, in partnership with the Los Angeles County
District Attorney’s Office, secured the felony conviction of a sex
offender. It was the result of a 9 month long investigation into
claims of Human Trafficking of a Minor.

52-year-old Kerman Lancell Brown, a resident of Los Angeles,
California, was convicted of Human Trafficking of a Minor and Oral
Copulation of a Minor. The victim in this case was a 17-year-old
male from Rowland Heights, California. The investigation began when
a minor reported the violent, sexual assault and abuse of his
trafficker to the Human Trafficking Task force. It was determined
that between June 30, 2015, and July 1, 2015, Brown forced the
victim to perform sexual acts upon him, as well as persuaded and
threatened the minor to work as a prostitute. On one specific
occasion, Brown told the minor that he would “kill everyone he
loved” if he attempted to escape, or successfully escaped his
control.

Brown, a self-admitted gang member, pled guilty to Human
Trafficking of a Minor and Oral Copulation of a Minor in Los
Angeles Superior Court. He received a 14 year prison sentence and
is a registered sexual offender for the duration of his life.

Anyone with information in regards to this suspect is asked to call
Operations-South Bureau Human Trafficking Task Force at (213)
926-3963. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be
directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to
remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS
(800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting
to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell
phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”
Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous
Web Tips.”