Sex Trafficker Busted in Bel Air Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison: U.S. Attorney

BALTIMORE, MD — A New York man was sentenced to more than a decade in federal prison for trafficking a 16-year-old girl for sex. Officials said they began investigating after the teen called 911 from a hotel room near Bel Air.

Raymond Idemudia Aigbekaen, 29, a Nigerian man residing in Amityville, New York, was convicted of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and related charges after a nine-day trial, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland.

Last week, Aigbekaen was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. On Wednesday, he appealed the conviction and sentence.

Aigbekaen was one of two men charged in the case, in which officials said a teen was trafficked from New York to Maryland and Virginia between February and April 2015.

Aigbekaen and the other trafficker — Marcell Greene, 28, of Wyandanch, New York — used or threatened to use violence if the girl would not perform sex acts, according to court filings.

Authorities became involved when the teen called 911 from the Homewood Suites Bel Air in the 4100 block of Philadelphia Road on April 12, 2015.

The victim reported that Aigbekaen and Greene secured hotel rooms and online advertisements for her to engage in commercial sex acts, according to prosecutors.

Aigbekaen's email accounts were used to post the online advertisements, some containing his phone number, officials reported. On his phone, authorities said they found pictures of the victim used in the ads. He was also identified as the person who rented the room in Harford County and other rooms in Maryland; Frericksburg, Virginia; and Virginia Beach, Virginia.

In the trash can at the Homewood Suites Bel Air, officials said there were tissues and used condoms with DNA from Greene, who struck a plea deal in the case.

Greene pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking and was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison, court filings show. It was recommended that he serve his time in New York.

As part of his sentence, Greene must undergo substance abuse and mental health treatment programs. Upon his release, he will be supervised for 10 years and must register as a sex offender.

Aigbekaen must also register as a sex offender following his 15-year sentence. It was recommended that he participate in a substance abuse program and sex offender treatment program, abstain from alcohol and be incarcerated near Houston, Texas.

Both men were prohibited from using computers or electronic devices with internet capabilities unless approved by a federal probation officer, according to court documents.

Homeland Security, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Harford County Child Advocacy Center, Maryland State Police and the FBI collaborated in the investigation, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection – New York, officials said.

Anyone who suspects human trafficking may report it to the Homeland Security tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing an online tip form. Investigators take tips 24/7.

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