BUFFALO – Federal authorities announced on Friday that Kenneth Graham, 24, of Amherst, N.Y., was arrested and charged with sex trafficking of minors. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine.

According to the complaint, between 2010 and August 2012, the defendant recruited, promoted and profited from the prostitution activities of two minor girls knowing, or in reckless disregard of the fact, that the girls were under the age of 18. Graham also recruited, promoted and profited from a third victim, a woman in her 20's.  

The complaint further alleges that the defendant placed advertisements on the web site backpage.com. One ad cited in the complaint read “Amazingly Sexy Sweet Petite Companion 20 working out of the airport area.” The acts took place in various hotels in the towns of Amherst and Cheektowaga. The Complaint further states that customers were charged $100 per half hour and $150 per hour.

One of the minor female victims claims that Graham kidnaped her for a week and physically assaulted her.

“Human trafficking, in particular the sex trafficking of minors, is something that our Office takes very seriously,” said U.S. Attorney William Hochul, Jr. “This defendant used physical threats to try and control these victims and now he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Any individual who considers similar behavior will also be prosecuted and faces a potential life sentence if convicted.”  

The arrest was the result of an investigation on the part of members of the Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Amherst Police Department, the Cheektowaga Police Department and the Buffalo Police Department.