BUFFALO, N.Y. – Jasmin Osteen, a 27-year-old resident of Jamestown, New York, has been sentenced to 144 months in prison for her part in a sex trafficking scheme that exploited two teenagers. The sentencing was announced on February 4 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Western New York, following a conviction on charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor.
The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo in collaboration with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the Jamestown Police Department, uncovered the disturbing operation that ran from August to October 2020. According to the findings, Osteen, along with other conspirators, manipulated two 17-year-old girls into participating in commercial sex acts.
Osteen was directly involved in transporting the minors to a hotel in Buffalo where they were given alcohol and drugs. She then used social media, specifically Facebook, to arrange meetings with clients for these commercial sex acts, from which she profited significantly.
Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge at HSI Buffalo, condemned the actions, stating, “It is appalling to discover two teenagers will suffer life-long trauma after being victimized by Jasmin Osteen’s heinous sex trafficking enterprise. No youth should have to endure the abuse these young ladies faced. We commend the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the Jamestown Police Department for helping us shut this illicit business down. HSI Buffalo vows to end the violence against human trafficking victims caused by perverse individuals seeking pleasure or profit from them.”