Rochester man indicted of charges of sex trafficking and kidnapping

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Cordell Brooks, 28, of Rochester, NY, with sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and kidnapping. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine.

 Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between May and July 5, 2023, Brooks forced Victim 1 to engage in a commercial sex act. In addition, on July 5, 2023, Brooks kidnapped and abducted Victim 1.

Brooks was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and is being held.  

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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