BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A 23-year-old Jamestown woman has been arrested and charged with two counts of sex trafficking a minor.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York says Jasmin Osteen allegedly exploited two vulnerable young girls for her own financial benefit.
Officials say according to the complaint on September 23 the mother and grandmother of one of the victims reached out to the the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office with concern because the victim was involved in prostitution and using drugs. The mother and grandmother accused Osteen of trafficking the victim for sexual exploitation. They alledgedly provided screenshots of messages between Osteen and the victim talking about having sex for money.
The complaint states on October 30 the victim obtained housing and services at the Safe House in Jamestown and allegedly told staff she was forced to have sex with multiple unknown adults in exchange for money that was given to Osteen.
According to the complaint, the victim stated Osteen took her to Buffalo and other cities and rented hotel rooms for the purpose of having sex buyers engage in sexual acts. The victim also stated in the complaint that during one of these trips a second minor victim was forced to engage in sexual activity.
The victim alleged Osteen threatened she would be harmed if she talked about anything.
According to the complaint, the second victim stated Osteen drove them to a Buffalo hotel, gave them alcohol and forced them to have sex for money.
“As alleged in the criminal complaint, this woman exploited two vulnerable young girls for her own financial benefit,” said U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. “The depravity of the defendant’s conduct and the harm she caused to these two minors are the stuff of which parental nightmares are made. I want to commend the members of federal, state, and local law enforcement, who, working with the tremendous child advocates serving our community, took swift and certain action to rescue these victims and to protect others from this predatory defendant."
Osteen made an initial appearance before a judge Friday an was detained.
