LI Man Pleads Not Guilty To Sex Trafficking A Minor, Other Charges, Defense Attorney Says

BROOKLYN, NY. — A 37-year-old Elmont man pleaded not guilty to six criminal charges including sexually exploiting a minor, his defense attorney said in court Friday.

Long Island resident Jimmy Francois appeared with his attorney John Russo Friday, in front of Judge Clay Kaminsky in the United States Court in Brooklyn for an arraignment on six counts.

The counts included sex trafficking a minor by force, fraud or coercion, sex trafficking conspiracy, coercion and enticement of a minor, two separate counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and interstate prostitution. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel A. Bennek and Molly Delaney led the prosecution. A not guilty plea was entered on all six counts.

The prosecution said Friday that Francois had been arrested in Florida Jan. 29 and made an initial court appearance there

In comments delivered after the appearance, Russo said he felt the case had been overcharged.

“I’m fairly confident that [the case] has been overcharged, and that once the details of the case are turned over it will be a lot less salacious,” Russo told Patch Friday afternoon.

Friday morning, the U.S. Attorney’s office had said that the 37-year-old Long Island man had sex trafficked a 16-year-old Jane Doe between June and August of 2024, traveling through multiple states and “forced her to engage in commercial sex with multiple clients per day.”

Prosecutors further said Friday that Francois had physically assaulted Doe, and other women in her presence, to intimidate her. Prosecutors said law enforcement had also recovered a video in which Francois struck the girl multiple times in the face and told her, “I’mma violate you... you gonna have broken bones... in your hotel room. No hospital, no nothing. I will personally break your bones.”

“As alleged, the defendant preyed on a vulnerable child and sold her body for his own profit, while subjecting her to physical violence and threats,” United States Attorney Joseph Nocella said. “With [his Jan. 29] arrest, Francois is being held to account for his cruel and depraved crimes. Our Office will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of sex trafficking that threatens the safety of our communities.”

Francois did not make an application for bail Friday, but retained his right to make one in the future. A preliminary date in court for Francois has been set for Apr. 2.