I-Team 10 investigation: Sisters accused of sex trafficking

Posted at: 05/25/2012 11:39 AM | Updated at: 05/25/2012 5:23 PM
By: Brett Davidsen | WHEC.com

A 14-year-old girl sold for sex through an on-line classified site and now two Rochester sisters stand accused of child sex trafficking.

The two women appeared in federal court Friday morning for arraignment.

FBI investigators say 25-year-old Jerese Blue and 22-year-old Chellsie Blue admitted they took in two minors last month. Authorities say they enticed the girls with promises of big money.

According to an FBI investigator, Jerese Blue claimed she doesn't normally prostitute minors, that it was a two-day thing that "got out of control."

True or not -- now she and her sister are facing 10 years to life in prison if convicted of human trafficking.

Authorities say the girls were prostituted over a four-day period in April with the activity mostly occurring at the sisters' homes. They live two doors down from each other on Arnett Boulevard.

The 14-year-old victim told investigators the Blue sisters kept most of the money earned through the illegal activity.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Lee said, “She was required to perform sex in exchange for money and that she had had several activities with approximately 12 customers between the time period of April 15 and April 18."

It's the third case of child sex trafficking in the Rochester area in three months.

Thomas Cramer of Brighton was arrested in February, accused of enticing at least six minor females.

A few weeks later, Michael Todd Williams and 20-year-old Chelsea Willenborg of Rochester were charged with trafficking a 16-year-old female.

In all cases, including this latest, the minors were advertised on an on-line classifieds site. Lee said, “She was advertised, I believe, according to the criminal complaint, as someone who was 18.”

According to the complaint, Jerese Blue told the investigator she doesn't normally prostitute minors. She described this as “just two days gone wild."

The 14-year-old victim described things a little bit differently, telling authorities the clients were often rough and at times she felt like she was raped as a result.

Stunningly, both suspects have young daughters. Chellsie Blue's is four years old and Jerese Blue's daughter is 6. And while the judge barred the sisters from having contact with anyone under 18, the order excluded their children.

Jerese Blue's attorney Gary Muldoon said, “There are no restrictions upon her having contact with her daughter. There's no question or suggestion being made that anything improper involving her daughter has occurred."

The Blue sisters were both allowed to leave court without bail being set. They are required to wear an ankle monitoring bracelet and are not to have any contact with the victims.

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