Jamaica Sex Trafficker Convicted for Pimping, Beating Teen

By David Brand

A Jamaica sex trafficker took a plea deal Thursday after he was arrested for and charged with forcing a 15-year-old girl to have sex for money, keeping the money she earned and beating her on at least one occasion.

Lance Hamilton, 27, pleaded guilty to one-count of sex trafficking before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Peter F. Vallone Jr., who set sentencing for Feb. 25, 2019. Hamilton faces five to ten years in prison.

“In pleading guilty, the defendant admitted to coercing this young girl into prostitution. The victim suffered extensively at the hands of the defendant and will have to deal with the trauma she endured for the rest of her life,” said Queens District Attorney A. Brown in a statement. “Sex trafficking is abhorrent and we must see to it that individuals who facilitate such heinous crimes are punished.”

Hamilton started a relationship with the victim in February 2016. For two months, he forced her to have sex for money, which he kept he pocketed. Hamilton set daily quotas for her to achieve and posted advertisements of her on the Backpage.com, a sex work website that has been shut down.

Hamilton also forced the victim to solicit sex along Sutphin Boulevard.

When the teen tried to escape, Hamilton punched and choked her. He also pulled a gun on her.

Hamilton ditched the teen when she became pregnant in April 2016.