A Brooklyn man accused of inducing a teen to run away from a group home has admitted to forcing the young victim into prostitution, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey announced Tuesday.
Soauib Butcher, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark.
Butcher met the victim on social media, according to court documents and statements made in court.
In August 2019, he convinced the teen to flee from a group home in Bridgewater, N.J., and meet him at a train station in Sommerville, some 40 miles southwest of Manhattan.
Butcher then took him by train to New York City, where he instructed the victim to perform oral sex for money on a rooftop in Brooklyn, according to prosecutors.
The two stayed at Butcher’s Brooklyn residence for three days. On Aug. 17, Butcher told the victim he was going to introduce him to another person who would “teach [the teen] how to engage in commercial sex acts,” according to the indictment.
The two then went back to New Jersey, where “the victim stayed with Butcher and a conspirator in a series of motel rooms” in Elizabeth from August 2019 to January 2020.
During that time, Butcher’s co-conspirator posted photos of the teen on escort websites and facilitated encounters with customers, prosecutors said.
The two adult men arranged for customers “to come to the motels to have sex with the victim in exchange for money,” according to court records.
Customers would either pay Butcher for the teen’s services directly or pay the victim, who would then turn over the money to Butcher.
During that time, Butcher paid for the motels and the victim’s food and clothing, the indictment alleges.
Butcher was charged in January with conspiracy to commit child sex trafficking and related offenses. On Thursday, he admitted to his role in the conspiracy, which carries a maximum term of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 19, 2025.