Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 22-year-old Derek Harris of Buffalo has been arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice Christopher J. Burns on an indictment charging him with Sex Trafficking, Criminal Sex Act in the First Degree, Promoting Prostitution in the First Degree and Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree. 

It is alleged that Harris was engaged in an extensive operation of sex trafficking out of the Boulevard Inn Motel on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Amherst, involving several victims, some as young as 14-year-old, using the website, Backpage.com to solicit patrons and negotiate prices for various acts. 

Harris pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $150,000. If convicted of all the charges, he faces up to 50 years in prison. 

DA Flynn commends the Amherst Police Department and our partners on the Human Trafficking Task Force for their thorough investigation. 

Assistant District Attorney Ryan D. Haggerty in the DA’s Special Victim’s Bureau is prosecuting the case. 

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.