McDonald man jailed on charges of sexually trafficking teen
A McDonald man is in jail on charges that he sexually trafficked a 17-year-old girl from Glenn Falls, N.Y. who he met on Facebook.
The girl identified St. Patrick Earl Levy, 25, of 110 S. McDonald St., as her boyfriend, who had posted explicit pictures of her online as advertisements, sexually trafficked her to “customers,” and used the money she received to pay his bills, according to a criminal complaint filed by the attorney general’s office.
The investigation began Dec. 5, when a lieutenant from the Glenn Falls Police Department contacted McDonald police about a missing 17-year-old girl, who was believed to be trafficked for sex. Glenn Falls police said they tracked her by her cellphone and believed her to be living in McDonald.
Police searched the area that same day and located the girl and Levy at his residence. Police said he had a bench warrant from Allegheny County.
When FBI detectives interviewed the girl, she told them that she met Levy on Facebook. She told police he was her boyfriend and that she ran away from her home, about an hour north of Albany, to be with him.
FBI detectives then interviewed Levy, who allegedly admitted to posting a sexually explicit advertisement of the teen on a website. Police said the website’s support team provided police with numerous explicit photos of the girl that were attached to the advertisement.
Levy allegedly admitted to posting the ad “to solicit her for prostitution,” the complaint said. He also allegedly admitted to knowing she was under 18, and lying on the website, saying that she was 19 years old, as the posting of minors is prohibited by the website.
“Levy admitted to leaving the room while the minor was having sexual relations with a ‘customer,’ but would stay close to make sure she was OK,” the complaint said.
He also allegedly told police that the girl would give Levy the money “she earned” and that he would use it to pay his bills.
Levy was charged by the Organized Crime Section of the attorney general’s office with human trafficking of a minor, two counts of corruption of minors, three counts of promoting prostitution of a minor and living off prostitutes.
He was arraigned Friday afternoon by District Judge Traci McDonald and jailed on $150,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 21.
McDonald police said the girl was turned over to Children and Youth Services in New York.