A Chicago man named Lennie Perry has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in the trafficking of several minors for sex. Perry was found guilty of recruiting at least seven minors, some as young as under 14 years old, to engage in commercial sex acts for money. He utilized platforms like Backpage and Facebook to advertise these acts, and he required the minors to have sex with him before they could be trafficked to others. The illicit activities took place in various locations, including hotels and residences across Illinois, Minnesota, and Mississippi.
Perry’s conviction came after a trial in 2021, where six of his victims bravely testified about their experiences. The court deemed his actions not only criminal but also deeply damaging, creating trauma that profoundly impacts the victims involved. The serious nature of the crimes committed by Perry underscores the need for strict legal repercussions for individuals who exploit minors in such a heinous way.
In addition to his lengthy prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang has ordered Perry to pay a total of $523,600 in restitution to the victims he exploited. This financial penalty serves as a further acknowledgment of the harm caused by Perry’s actions, providing some measure of accountability to the victims affected by his crimes.
The case against Perry was investigated by the FBI Chicago Child Exploitation Task Force, with significant support from the Chicago Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Mulaney emphasized the importance of conveying a strong message to traffickers, declaring that those who exploit children in the Chicagoland area will face the maximum punishment according to the law.
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