CHICAGO — A Bellwood man has been indicted on a federal sex trafficking charge for allegedly recruiting a woman into prostitution.

ALBERT LARRY, JR., also known as “Junior,” 33, is charged with one count of sex trafficking.  He pleaded not guilty today at his arraignment in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  A detention hearing was scheduled for Dec. 3, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael T. Mason.

The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Carol Stream Police Department and the Waukegan Police Department.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Renai S. Rodney.

The indictment alleges that Larry violently forced the victim to engage in commercial sex acts from November 2016 to August 2017.  Larry took photographs of the victim and posted them in online advertisements offering commercial sex, according to a federal affidavit previously filed in the case.  Larry then rented Chicago-area hotel rooms that were used for encounters with individuals who responded to the advertisements, the affidavit states.  After the encounters, Larry allegedly took most, if not all, of the money earned by his victim.

Larry faces a statutory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.  The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678, or log on to http://www.missingkids.com.  The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.