NH Man Pleads Guilty To Sex Trafficking

CONCORD, NH — A New Hampshire man pleaded guilty to a single count of sex trafficking in U.S. District Court today, according to a press statement. Steve Tucker, 31, of an unknown location in New Hampshire, previously of Manchester, admitted to the crime as part of plea agreement, according to Acting-U.S. Attorney John J. Farley. Tucker recruited a minor victim to engage in commercial sex acts, provided a location for the commercial sex acts, arranged her transportation to perform commercial sex acts, paid for internet advertisements for the commercial sex acts, and collected a portion of the cash proceeds from the minor’s commercial sex acts.

“The United States Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to combat human trafficking,” Farley said. “I am proud of the work that the members of the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force do each day to combat the scourge of human trafficking using a multidisciplinary approach. This successful prosecution is an example of the Task Force’s ongoing efforts to seek justice for victims of sex trafficking crimes.” (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Concord NH Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

This prosecution is the result of the joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Manchester Police Department, the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire, and the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, Farley noted.

“Sex trafficking is a heinous crime that often times preys on the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society,” said Acting-Asst. A.G. John Gore in a statement. “Combatting sex trafficking is one of the highest priorities of the Department of Justice, and we will continue to hold traffickers accountable and to seek justice on behalf of sex trafficking victims.”

Tucker faces up to 10 years to life in prison. He will be sentenced in January 2018. Tucker will also be required to pay restitution to the victim.

Image via screenshot of WMUR-TV video.