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Human Trafficking
Toms River NJ Human Trafficking Defense Lawyer
Contrary to popular belief, human trafficking and associated prostitution charges are filed all the time in Ocean County. In point of fact, many brothels have been raided in the last year or two in the county, including in towns like Lakewood, Jackson and Toms River, to name a few. When this occurs, human trafficking charges can follow, something that results in serious criminal exposure as this is a first degree crime. This grade of offense carries the most severe penalties including up to twenty (20) years in prison. You definitely need a seasoned sex crime defense lawyer if you are facing this offense. This is what you can achieve with the attorneys at our firm, including the multiple former prosecutors on staff.
Contact Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, 10 Allen St #2Dreet, Toms River, NJ 08753 at (732) 286-6500 if you are facing a human trafficking charges arising out of Toms River, Brick, Berkeley, Lakewood, Jackson, Seaside Heights, Manchester, Little Egg Harbor, Lacey, Stafford or another Ocean County Municipality.
Charged With Human Trafficking in Ocean County
The offense of human trafficking is contained at N.J.S.A. 2C:13-8. This charge is intended to target those who engage in schemes and plans to lure, hold, entice, harbor and transport individuals for sexual activity and to provide illegal labor services. In order for the prosecutor to convict you of human trafficking in Berkeley, Lacey or another town in New Jersey, they must prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that:
- The accused knowingly;
- Held, recruited, lured, enticed, harbored, transported, provided or obtained by any means;
- Another person to engage in sexual activity, labor or services; and
- That the defendant did this by causing or threatening to cause either serious bodily harm or physical restraint against any person, or scheming or planning to cause the victim to believe that they or any other person would suffer serious bodily harm or physical restraint or by criminal coercion.
Even if the aforementioned elements are not satisfied, the State can prove a violation of the Human Trafficking law by showing that the defendant received anything of value for his or her participation as an organizer, supervisor, financier or manager in a scheme or course of conduct constituting Human Trafficking. If the person being held, recruited, lured, enticed, harbored, transported, provided or obtained by any means, another to engage in sexual activity was under the age of 18, then the fourth element, requiring force or threat of force, is no longer required.
Penalties That Apply to Human Trafficking
The New Jersey Legislature has attempted to deter individuals from engaging in human trafficking by imposing severe penalties for those convicted under 2C:13-8. Human trafficking is a first degree crime, the highest grade of criminal offense someone can face in this state. If you are convicted of human trafficking, the potential term of imprisonment is either a twenty (20) year sentence during which a defendant is ineligibility for parole, or a fixed term between twenty (20) years and life imprisonment, with a twenty (20) year period of parole ineligibility. The minimum fine if you are convicted of human trafficking is $25,000 and the maximum is $200,000. In addition, victims of human trafficking are entitled to restitution from the defendant for the amount of work or labor they performed while in captivity.
Lakewood NJ Human Trafficking Attorney
The penalties for human trafficking are almost as extreme as those if you committed a homicide. This should be ample signal to you that you absolutely must retain a skilled attorney if you were arrested for human trafficking in Brick, Seaside Heights, Manchester, Little Egg Harbor, Stafford or another location in Ocean County. Lawyers at Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall are fully capable of defending you against this crime with over 100 years in practice between us. To learn what our attorneys can do to help you escape a prison term and other consequences of a conviction, call (732) 286-6500. A lawyer is ready to assist you anytime 24/7.