Man Convicted of Forcing Teen Into Prostitution

A 32-year-old man has been convicted of forcing a 19-year-old woman to work as a prostitute to pay his lawyer’s fees stemming from a rape charge in Cleveland.

Bennie Veasey was convicted on three counts of human trafficking, and one count of prostitution on Thursday after he lured two women into working as prostitutes at a Towson hotel, according to a news release from State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger’s office.

Baltimore County police picked up the 19-year-old woman in a sting in April. During an interview, police said it was clear she had been coerced into becoming a prostitute, and forced to give all the money from clients to Veasey, according to the news release.

A sentencing date for Veasey has not been set.