By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

HARTFORD >> A jury found a New York man guilty in U.S. District Court Monday of sex trafficking two minors, who were 16- and 17 years old at the time.
Edward “Fire” Thomas, 40, recruited the girls and brought them to hotels in Connecticut, including in Milford, where the teens performed sex acts in exchange for money, which they would then turn over to Thomas.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Thomas answered an Internet prostitution advertisement for a 17-year-old girl in Oregon, then enticed her to travel to New York to work for him. She eventually agreed and traveled to New York with a second girl, who was 16 years old, using bus tickets Thomas purchased.

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U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly said Thomas “preyed on the vulnerabilities of two girls whom he lured 3,000 miles away from their homes.”

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