Governor Hochul Signs LGBTQ+, Sex Trafficking Victim Protection Bills

Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation that expands protections for the LGBTQ+ community and those who have been victims of sex trafficking.

One bill gives utility customers the right to be addressed and acknowledged by their preferred name and pronouns by requiring utility corporations, municipalities, water-works corporations, and telephone service providers to allow customers to use their preferred name and pronouns.

Hochul said the process for transgender individuals to change their names is “excruciating,” “Being misgendered, it’s traumatic. It’s truly dramatic. It’s stressful. To be deadnamed. I mean, these are people with feelings and individuals who just deserve more than that. And to know that this is going on and causing them anguish, therefore, it causes me anguish. This is how I feel so deeply and passionately about the people of this state. So this legislation is necessary to streamline the process for utility corporations to respect a customer’s gender identities.”

Hochul said the bill also will prevent the risk of individuals being found by an abusive family member or partner and reduce the risk of harassment in housing.

The second bill, known as the START Act, strengthens protections for victims of sex trafficking, labor trafficking, compelling prostitution, and trafficking in persons, who are convicted of a range of offenses as a result of that trafficking or compelling. This legislation builds on a law passed in 2010 in New York allowing victims of human trafficking to vacate prostitution-related criminal convictions that were directly tied to their victimization.

James Chapman

BUFFALO – A Jamestown man faces federal charges involving sex trafficking and production and distribution of child pornography following a joint-investigation by the FBI and Jamestown Police Department.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Buffalo, 37-year-old James Chapman was indicted this week by a federal grand jury after the investigation found he attempted to coerce minors into prostitution and sexual activities.

According to federal officials, Chapman allegedly attempted to coerce a minor to engage in prostitution and sexual activity between Nov. 24 and Nov. 25, 2014. On the same dates, he recruited two minors to engage in a commercial sex act. The minors were both 16 years old at the time of the incident.  Between December 2016 and April 2017, Chapman is also accused of distributing child pornography depicting the two minors. He also allegedly coerced yet another minor to engage in “sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of producing a visual depiction.”

Chapman is accused of using a Facebook account under the name “Perverted Doe” that contained images of child porn. Investigators say he also used the online alias of Fatz Guy and Perverted Doe.

During the investigation, federal prosecutors say Chapman reportedly made a false statement to the FBI in January of this year.

Chapman was arraigned Thursday in Federal Court in Buffalo on a 14-count indictment that includes charges of enticement of a minor; sex trafficking of a minor; production, distribution, possession and receipt of child pornography.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life and a $250,000 fine.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about Chapman’s contact with minors is urged to call the FBI Buffalo office at 716-856-7800 and to press zero (0) and to ask to speak with an agent.