STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Samuel Walker, 69, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to engage in the sex trafficking of minors, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John D. Fabian, who handled the case, stated that in January and February of 2015, the defendant conspired with co-defendant D’Angelo Conner to engage in sex trafficking of minors. Connor managed an escort business which advertised two victims (Victim 1 and Victim 2) on backpage.com. At Connor’s request, Walker acted as a driver for the business, transporting Victim 1 and Victim 2 to prostitution appointments. The defendant was paid $25 per trip. Walker did so knowing or recklessly disregarding that both Victim 1 and Victim 2 were minors who engaged in commercial sex acts during the appointments.
On February 25, 2015, the defendant drove Victim 1 to a prostitution appointment at a hotel in Cheektowaga, NY. On that date, as well as on the two preceding days, February 23 and 24, 2015, Connor used the defendant’s cell phone to exchange text messages with Victim 1 regarding prostitution appointments and activities.
D’Angelo Conner was previously convicted and sentenced to serve 90 months in prison.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
