01/03/2026
Kissimmee, FL – A federal jury in the Eastern District of New York convicted "Sir Bar," or Joel David Forney, 42, of Kissimmee, Florida, on two counts of s*x trafficking and related charges for his conduct in trafficking two women to work in commercial s*x in New York, including at an open-air s*x trafficking market along a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn known as the Penn Track, as well as the defendant’s transportation of a woman from New York to multiple other states, including Connecticut and Wisconsin, with the intent that she engage in commercial s*x for his financial benefit. Forney was also found guilty of coercion and enticement of a minor for having s*xual in*******se with a teenager when he was 31 years old.
“The defendant used violence and threats to force victims into commercial s*x for his profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Such inhumane conduct has no place in a civilized society. The Justice Department is committed to combating human trafficking and securing justice for its victims.”
“The jury found that Forney used violence and threats to compel women to engage in commercial s*x acts at the Penn Track for his own profit, and enticed a vulnerable minor into having s*x with him,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Our office will relentlessly pursue those, like the defendant, who engage in s*x trafficking, and I commend the survivors of Forney’s depraved conduct who bravely assisted law enforcement in bringing him to justice.”
“Joel Forney’s actions inflicted lasting harm on his victims through violence, coercion and manipulation,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting everyone in our communities, and we hope today’s sentencing brings some measure of closure to the victims.”
Evidence at trial showed that Forney used false promises to lure women into his trafficking network. The defendant then compelled these women to have s*x with multiple men per day for money, while keeping the proceeds for himself. If the women refused to engage in commercial s*x for his financial benefit, the defendant subjected them to physical abuse and threatened to hurt or kill them if they did not comply.
The evidence also showed that the defendant lured a third victim to his home by sending her romantic and s*xual text messages. Once in his house, the defendant had s*x with the victim, even though he was 31 years old at the time and she knew no more than 15. Forney then sent the victim text messages that implied he was recruiting her for commercial s*x.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Forney faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison as well as mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the FBI NYPD Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Elbert and Antoinette N. Rangel for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Leah Branch of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Be safe out here folks.
