Bridgeport Residents Charged with Sex Trafficking of a Minor

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven has returned an indictment charging DARRYL MORRIS, also known as “King Sincere,” 32, and NESHAYA DOZIER, 26, both of Bridgeport, with offenses related to the sex trafficking of a minor.

The indictment was returned on August 9, 2016, and unsealed today.  MORRIS was arrested on August 16 and DOZIER was arrested on August 19.  They are both detained.

The indictment alleges that, between November 2014 and May 2016, MORRIS and DOZIER conspired to recruit, harbor and transport a minor to engage in commercial acts, and that MORRIS did so with force, threats of force, fraud and coercion.

MORRIS and DOZIER are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and one count of sex trafficking of a minor, offenses that carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  MORRIS is also charged with one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bridgeport Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Stratford Police Department and New York Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarala V. Nagala.