Man Charged With Sex Trafficking Of Child In Union County

ELIZABETH, NJ — A Brooklyn, New York man was charged after police say he arranged for customers to come to Union County motel rooms to have sex with the child, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Friday.

Soauib Butcher, 30, of Brooklyn, is charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking of a minor, and transporting a minor to engage in commercial sexual activity.

Butcher appeared Friday before Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court and was detained.

In August 2019, Butcher convinced the child, whom he met on social media, to run away from a group home in Bridgewater and meet him at a train station in Somerville, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

The female child was between 14 and 18 years old.

Butcher brought the victim by train to New York City, where he instructed the victim to perform oral sex for money on a rooftop in Brooklyn, according to authorities.

Several days later, Butcher brought the victim to Elizabeth, where, from August 2019 to January 2020, the victim stayed with Butcher and a conspirator in a series of motel rooms.

The conspirator posted advertisements of the victim on escort websites and, together with Butcher, arranged for customers to come to the motels to have sex with the victim in exchange for money, according to authorities.

Butcher faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum term of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the crimes charged.

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