Christopher Thomas, age 39, of Colonie, New York, was convicted today of 16 counts of sex trafficking and related offenses, following a five-day jury trial. 

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Special Agent in Charge Janeen DiGuiseppi of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli made the announcement.

The trial evidence established that between 2018 and 2020, Thomas trafficked and exploited victims, including minors as young as 16, whom he recruited to work in commercial sex for his financial benefit.  His crimes spanned New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Thomas was also convicted of sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography and tampering with a witness. 

When United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino sentences Thomas, he faces at least 15 years and up to life in prison, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Thomas must also register as a sex offender.

In addition to the FBI and NYSP, the Colonie Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office and Albany Police Department assisted in investigating the case.  Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine Kopita and Rachel Williams are prosecuting the case.

Original source can be found here.