By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

HARTFORD >> A tip about an online escort advertisement featuring a young-looking female prompted investigators to set up a sting that ultimately led them to Edward "Fire" Thomas, according to testimony in federal court Tuesday.
Thomas, 40, of New York, is on trial before U.S. District Court Judge Robert Chatigny in Hartford. Thomas faces two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the two minors were 16 and 17-years-old at the time.

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