A Connecticut man has been found guilty of sex trafficking a teen and two women during the 2020 Super Bowl in Miami.
On Friday, Edward Walker of New Haven was found guilty following an eight-day jury trial in Fort Lauderdale. Prosecutors say the 48-year-old traveled with a 17-year-old girl and two women to Miami during last year’s Super Bowl festivities. Once in Florida, Walker forced the women and teen to perform sex acts in exchange for money, which he kept.
Walker planned to sex traffic the victims during other major events as well, including last year’s NBA All-Star Game in Chicago and Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
With the pandemic having a hold on the nation when the 2020 Super Bowl was taking place, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody advised hospitality workers, ride-hailing services, and security staff to be on the lookout for victims of sex trafficking.
Miami-Dade County remains the number one hot spot for sex trafficking in Florida and third in the country.
Walker was convicted of two counts of sex trafficking by force and coercion and one count of transporting a person for sexual activity. He will be sentenced in January and is facing life in prison.
