According to Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin’s office, 28-year old Marquise D. Ogawa of Lawnside, 26-year-old Chyaire Lee of Lawnside and 21-year-old Jazmin Scott of Collingswood are facing several charges.
The charges include first-degree conspiracy, first-degree human trafficking, second-degree facilitating human trafficking, first-degree promoting prostitution and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Police allege the three recruited, harbored and transported the teenage victim for the purposes of trafficking her for commercial sex between August and November 2021.
The charges come after an investigation conducted by the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons and Human Trafficking Unit.
Additionally, Ogawa is charged with first-degree promoting organized street crime, according to the AG’s office.
After Scott’s arrest, she was linked to a human trafficking network involving Ogawa and Lee, according to Platkin’s office.
Ogawa allegedly managed the network by advertising victims for commercial sex acts, renting hotel rooms, determining prices and collecting payment.
Lee allegedly drove victims to the locations and collected payments for Ogawa.
Authorities arrested Lee and Ogawa at their home in Lawnside on December 3.
“Human trafficking is a crime that often occurs in the shadows and is difficult to detect,” Platkin said. “We are committed to collaborating with the State Police and our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who traffic and sexually exploit children.”