Bronx Man Charged With Sex Trafficking Of A Minor And Distribution Of Fentanyl

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the arrest of VIRGIL WARDLOW for paying for sex with a minor with fentanyl-laced pills.  WARDLOW was arrested yesterday evening in the Bronx, New York, and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendant’s alleged conduct is reprehensible: He allegedly used pills laced with fentanyl to pay for sex with a 16-year-old minor victim.  The victim’s 19-year-old friend ingested one of those pills and died shortly thereafter.  Worse, the defendant’s conduct was allegedly part of a pattern of similar behavior in which he exchanged or attempted to exchange dangerous narcotics for sex.  This Office will be relentless in its efforts to seek justice for victims of child sexual exploitation and for the families facing the horrific tragedy of losing a loved one to fentanyl poisoning.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]

WARDLOW engaged in a pattern of paying for sex with illicit pills laced with fentanyl.  On or about March 25, 2023, at a hotel room in the Bronx, New York, WARDLOW provided two of those pills to a 16‑year-old female (“Victim-1”) in exchange for sex.  After Victim-1 had sex with WARDLOW and WARDLOW left the hotel room, Victim-1 and her 19-year-old female friend (“Victim-2”) ingested the pills he provided.  Thereafter, Victim-1 and Victim-2 became ill, and Victim-2 died.

Between at least on or about February 8, 2023, and on or about April 7, 2023, WARDLOW exchanged multiple messages with other individuals in which WARDLOW offered to provide pills in exchange for sex and otherwise sell pills.  WARDLOW sent these messages using an anonymized cellphone number that masked his identity from his intended victims.

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WARDLOW, 31, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of unlawful distribution of narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York State Police, the New York City Police Department, and Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit and Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey W. Coyle is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.