Delco Man Gets Prison Time For Sex With Human Trafficking Victim

A Delaware County man was sentenced to prison time and sex offender status Wednesday, Jan. 24 after being found guilty of having sex with a teenage human trafficking victim in 2015 while knowing she was a victim of trafficking, according to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.

Matthew Jeffrey Sipps, 40, of Aston, was sentenced to one to five years incarceration in a state prison, with five years of state sex offender probation to follow his time in prison, the DA's office said.

Sipps is the first Delaware County resident to be sentenced under Pennsylvania’s human trafficking legislation for engaging in a sex act with a victim while knowing that the individual was a victim of human trafficking, according to the DA's office.

Sipps was convicted on charges of patronizing a victim of sexual servitude, concealing the whereabouts of a child, and corruption of minors in his trial.

Sipps was charged December 5, 2016 following an investigation into a missing 16-year-old Rhode Island girl, which was conducted by Det. Mark Bucci of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Child Abuse Unit and Sgt. Michael Ruggieri of the Aston Township Police Department.

The investigation began when Officer Thomas Hearty of the Aston Township Police Department was contacted by North Providence Rhode Island Police Department concerning the whereabouts of a 16-year-old girl who had been missing from her home for eight weeks.

According to police, the victim contacted her mother to be picked up from 110 Sweigart Lane in Aston Township.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the victim ran away form her home and made contact with a man named "Jordan," who picked up the victim from her hometown in Rhode Island.

"Jordan," later identified as Raymond Justis, then drove her to a hotel in New Jersey where he had sexual intercourse with her several times, the DA's office said.

He then posted her photos online as an advertisement for escort services.

In March 2015, Sipps responded to said advertisement and arranged to meet the victim at a hotel.

Sipps went to the hotel and paid the victim for sex then took the victim to his home in Aston where she stayed for a month, according to the DA's office.

Sipps told the victim to not leave or socialize with his family and to stay in Sipps’ room. For more than a week, the victim told Sipps that she wanted to go home but he would not let her leave the house. Eventually Sipps let the victim contact her mother, who then contacted local police about the whereabouts of her missing daughter.

FBI Special Agent Michael Goodhue and Det. Bucci met with Sipps who admitted to meeting the victim at a motel in Maple Shade, New Jersey, after calling the phone number on a website.

Justin pleaded guilty in March 2016 to federal charges of sex trafficking of a minor and was sentenced to federal prison.

"I would like to commend CID Detective Bucci, Sergeant Michael Ruggieri of Aston Police, Assistant District Attorney Alan Borowsky who prosecuted the case, Special Agents Michael Goodhue and Jennifer Batish, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Morgan, as well as the Delaware County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and the Delaware County Women Against Rape (DCWAR) for providing assistance to ensure a thorough and complete investigation and successful prosecution," Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland said in a statement. "Their hard work and collaboration led to the arrest and conviction of two predators, and most importantly, ensured that the child victim was returned to a safe, healthy environment. Together, we are committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting those who traffic and exploit children for their own selfish gain."

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office