A Forest Park resident Ruben Carter, 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on Sept. 22 for sex trafficking a 16-year-old girl, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois.
A former detective of the Forest Park Police Department headed the case that led to Carter’s arrest.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, over a four-month period in 2019, Carter made the girl — who he knew was 16 — engage in sex acts with him and commercially. Carter arranged for the girl to exchange sexual acts for money, which he collected from the girl. He also used explicit photos of the girl to elicit sexual services, recorded abuse on his cell phone, and beat and threatened her.
Earlier this year, Carter pleaded guilty for sex trafficking of a minor. After serving 25 years in federal prison, Carter will face a 10-year, court-supervised release.
“Ruben Carter targeted a vulnerable 16-year-old runaway, lured her into his orbit, and sexually exploited her for his own financial benefit,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Asheeka Desai argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s crimes were violent, exploitative, and incredibly serious.”