Man pleads guilty to forcing woman to work as prostitute

Man indicted for pornographic video of an infant
6:31 p.m.
Man carrying child killed by train
6:22 p.m.
Miami University puts regional director of admission, financial aid on paid leave
4:27 p.m.
Rosemary Clooney musical makes world debut in Dayton
3:34 p.m.
Ohio home sales started year with gains
2:07 p.m.
> More headlines

By Cornelius Frolik, Staff Writer 10:23 PM Tuesday, January 24, 2012

A Toledo-based pimp who was apprehended in Tipp City while holding a woman against her will for purposes of sex trafficking pleaded guilty on Monday to two felony charges.

Rodney Brown, 33, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to being a felon in possession of a firearm and violating the Mann Act, a law used to combat forced prostitution, said Mike Tobin, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Brown, who will be sentenced in May, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Last April, Brown was arrested by Tipp City police following a traffic stop on Interstate 75. Police found that Brown was holding 20-year-old Michigan resident Selma Hasanovic against her will and was taking her to Indianapolis to force her to have sex with strangers for money.

Hasanovic met Brown through an acquaintance, but he transported her from Michigan to his home in Toledo and forced her to have sex with him and did not let her leave, according to federal affidavits in support of a search warrant.

Authorities said Brown then found men to have sex with Hasanovic for money through Backpage.com, a website for classified advertising. Brown kept all of the earnings.

Hasanovic told authorities she tried to contact friends and family to help her escape, but Brown had a gun and she feared for her life.

Hasanovic died months later from an apparent drug overdose.

Hana Gredic, Hasanovic’s mother, said she remains unconvinced that her daughter’s death was accidental, but she says she is pleased Brown will be punished for his crimes.

“I am so happy,” she said. “I dream about my daughter every night.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-0749 or cfrolik@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article