New York rap artist Jimmy Francois, known by his stage name “Bentley Bugz,” has been arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn for allegedly sex trafficking a 16-year-old girl, using force, threats, and coercion to exploit her.
The 37-year-old from Elmont, Long Island, faces a six-count indictment for the alleged sex trafficking, which took place over a three-month period in 2024.
New York rap artist Jimmy Francois aka Bentley Bugz was arraigned on a six-count CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING indictment March 6 following a multiagency investigation that included ICE HSI.
Francois allegedly sex trafficked a 16-year-old girl throughout multiple states — forcing her… pic.twitter.com/oWlTNWbLP7
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) March 10, 2026
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Francois preyed on the vulnerable teenager, identified as Jane Doe, between June and August 2024.
The aspiring rapper allegedly transported her across multiple states and forced her to engage in commercial sex acts with multiple clients daily.
Prosecutors claim Francois physically assaulted the girl, intimidated her with threats of violence, and even assaulted other women in her presence to ensure her compliance.
The indictment details how Francois created sexually explicit images and videos of the girl, some of which he posted online as advertisements for prostitution.
Investigators recovered a chilling video in which Francois allegedly assaulted, demeaned, and threatened the victim with statements such as, “You learned and understand that me and you are not equal,” “You speak when you’re spoken to,” “I’mma violate you… you gonna have broken bones… in your hotel room. No hospital, no nothing,” and “I will personally break your bones.”
Francois was arrested on January 29 in Miami, Florida, and extradited to New York by the U.S. Marshals Service.
If convicted, Francois faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to life imprisonment.
“As alleged, the defendant’s exploitation and trafficking of an innocent teenager — across state lines and over the course of months — can only be described as depravity in its most vile form. He hid his dark life of threats and abuse behind a facade of power and luxury. Together with our law enforcement partners, HSI New York is wholeheartedly focused on protecting victims as we relentlessly pursue those who dehumanize and debase them for their own selfish gain and satisfaction,” HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Alfonso said in a press release about the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel A. Bennek and Molly Delaney from the Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section.
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