BALTIMORE — A Baltimore bails bondsman was sentenced to seven years in federal prison from sex trafficking conspiracy involving a minor.
A U.S. District Judge said 48-year-old Charles Mario Brown Sr. admitted to operating a prostitution business involving a 16-year-old girl, and at least four women, who performed commercial sex acts in the Baltimore area.
In his plea deal, Brown and a co-conspirator met a 16-year-old runaway, identified as "Victim 1" three-years ago in Baltimore. The minor was then told to respond to and meet customers when they called looking for sex; after they found her posted prostitution ads.
Victim 1 was offered food and a place to stay in exchange for a percentage the money she made through prostitution.
In late 2016, an undercover Harford County Sheriff’s Office detective found the cell phone to one of Brown's sex workers deceased costumer. According to the report, the customer died from a heroin overdoses in an Edgewood hotel room, with one of Brown's workers.
The detective reportedly called to schedule an appointment with a prostitute at an Edgewood hotel. It was requested that Victim 1 take the appointment and the $1,000 heroin sale arranged by the detective.
According to court documents, after Victim 1 and another sex worker was dropped off at the hotel by Brown and his partner, investigators began to question Victim 1. Moments later, Brown and his partner were arrested while waiting outside of the hotel room.
This case was investigated by law enforcement agencies who are members of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force. Suspected instances of human trafficking can be reported to HSI’s tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing its online tip form [ice.gov]. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.
