Delco Man Guilty Of Sex With Teen Human Trafficking Victim

A Delaware County man who was arrested in December 2016 has been convicted of having sex with a teenage human trafficking victim, according to court records.

Matthew J. Sipps, 41, of Aston, was found guilty of felony patronizing a victim of sexual servitude, felony concealment of the whereabouts of a child, and corruption of minors, court records show.

The verdict came down Friday, Sept. 8 in a Delaware County court, just days after the trial began, according to court documents.

He has been ordered to undergo a psychosexual evaluation and a presentencing investigation, court records show. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

Additionally, Sipps was held after the judge increased his bail to 10 percent of $200,000, according to court documents.

Sipps was arrested for patronizing a teenage human trafficking victim who ran away from her Rhode Island home and became an escort.

Sipps' arrest came after he told investigators from the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division and the Aston Township Police Department that he met the 16-year-old runaway from Rhode Island at a New Jersey motel after calling an escort service ad in 2015, the Delaware County District Attorney's office said.

Sipps paid the victim for sex four times at the New Jersey motel and the DA's office said Sipps told the victim he wanted to "take her away from her current environment."

The DA's office said Sipps took the victim to his Aston home where she stayed for a month with Sipps not allowing the victim to socialize with his family.

The victim told Sipps for over a week that she wanted to go home but Sipps would not let her leave, the DA's office said. Sipps eventually let the victim contact her mother in Rhode Island, who contacted local police in Rhode Island about her daughter's location, the DA's office said.

The victim ran away from her home in Rhode Island and sought employment as an escort which led her to begin working for a man called "Jordan," later identified as Raymond Justis who later pleaded guilty to federal charges of sex trafficking a minor and was sentenced 14 years in federal prison following the prosecution in federal court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Morgan, the DA's office said.

“This case is an example of what happens when federal and local law enforcement collaborate in order to combat human trafficking. I would like to commend CID Det. Bucci, Sgt. Michael Ruggieri of Aston Police, ADA and Chief of Human Trafficking Pearl Kim, Special Agent Michael Goodhue, Special Agent Jennifer Batish and AUSA Michelle Morgan as well as Child Advocacy Center (CAC) and the Delaware County Women Against Rape (WAR) for providing assistance to ensure a thorough and complete investigation,” District Attorney Jack Whelan said. “Their hard work and collaboration led to these arrests and, more importantly, made sure this child victim received treatment and was returned home to a safe, healthy environment. Together, we in law enforcement 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