A man from Seattle, Wash. was convicted of 17 felonies Monday after posing as a documentary filmmaker to lure young women into prostitution.
David Delay, 51, was convicted of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking charge and coercion through force, fraud, and coercion to transport females for prostitution after a 10-day trial, the New York Post reported. He was also convicted on two counts of production of child pornography and obstruction, according to the Seattle Times. Delay faces up to life in prison for his actions. He was first indicted in 2015.
Victims testified that Delay lured them to Seattle, claiming they would be in a starring role for an HBO documentary. Delay’s intended targets received forged bank account screenshots of profits from his previous films, and a photograph of the supposed documentarian outside an HBO office.
Delay then coerced the young women into prostitution once they arrived. “[He] manipulated them emotionally and psychologically, isolated them [and] established their complete dependency on him,” according to U.S. Attorney’s Office. In some cases, victims were forced to produce graphic pornographic photographs and videos for him.
“I commend the victims who courageously took the witness stand and described some of the darkest moments of their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Annette Hayes.
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