Crime & Safety
Chicago, IL Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Trafficking Minor
Chicago, IL – A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking a 16 year old girl, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
By Natalie Brooks · 2026-09-28T19:38:33.830Z
Chicago, IL – A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking a 16 year old girl, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois, 39 year old Ruben Carter of Forest Park pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of sex trafficking of a minor. U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold imposed the 25 year sentence Tuesday and ordered an additional 10 years of court supervised release.
Federal prosecutors said Carter knew the victim was 16 when he caused her to engage in commercial sex acts over approximately four months in 2019.
Court records cited by prosecutors said Carter photographed the girl and used the images in online advertisements for sexual services. He then arranged meetings with customers at locations across the Chicago area and took the money she received, authorities said.
Prosecutors also said Carter abused and threatened the girl to force her to comply with his demands. The case involved conduct for which Carter has since pleaded guilty and been sentenced in federal court.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Ryan Whalen, special agent in charge of the FBI's Chicago Field Office. The Forest Park Police Department also provided substantial assistance in the investigation.
Federal officials described the victim as a vulnerable teenage runaway who was exploited for financial gain.
Anyone who believes they are a victim of sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1 800 843 5678 . The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.