Union County Man Pleads Guilty To Recruiting Minor To Work As Prostitute

A Union County man admitted today to recruiting a juvenile girl to work as a prostitute, according to the United States Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

Ronald Garris Jr., 30, of Plainfield, pleaded guilty in federal court to an information charging him with one county of sex trafficking of a minor, authorities said.

According to court documents, Garris admitted on June 14, 2013, he met a 15-year-old girl at a Best Western Hotel in South Plainfield and recruited her to work as a prostitute. He later posted an advertisement on backpage.com on June 18, 2013, containing explicit photographs of the 15-year-old girl, including her telephone number and the town of her location, authorities said.

The Plainfield man admitted to setting up “dates” during which the girl was supposed to perform sex acts in exchange for payment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Additionally, he admitted the girl went to a went to a hotel in New Brunswick on June 21, 2013, for a “date” in which he arranged, authorities said.

The sex trafficking of a minor charge is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. The sentence also carries a fine of $250,000 and Garris must register as a sex offender.

Garris is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 18.