Federal prosecutors have charged the owner of a foot fetish website with sex trafficking offenses, alleging he used the promise of modeling work to lure and sexually assault multiple women in New York City hotel rooms.
Jason Khan, who operated the foot fetish site FootPadNYC.com, was arrested Monday and indicted on three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Each count carries a potential sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
The indictment alleges Khan exploited his position as a website operator to deceive women seeking legitimate modeling opportunities. Prosecutors claim he contacted aspiring foot models through his platform and arranged meetings at hotel rooms, ostensibly for interviews about potential work. Once the women arrived for what they believed were professional interviews, Khan allegedly sexually assaulted them.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the alleged assaults occurred on at least three separate occasions. Prosecutors claim Khan sexually assaulted two victims through vaginal penetration and forcibly placed a third victim's feet on his penis. None of the victims consented to the sexual contact, authorities stated.
All three victims reported the assaults to law enforcement authorities, and two of them underwent rape kit examinations as part of the investigation. The cooperation of these victims proved crucial in building the federal case against Khan.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch addressed the case in a news release, stating, "This horrific behavior has no place in our city, and we will not allow predators to prey on vulnerable women."
The case highlights the dangers faced by individuals seeking work in niche modeling industries, where predators may exploit the informal nature of hiring practices and the vulnerability of aspiring models. Federal sex trafficking charges reflect the government's position that Khan allegedly used fraud and coercion to obtain commercial sex acts from his victims, a serious federal offense that carries substantial mandatory minimum sentences.
The investigation represents a collaborative effort between federal prosecutors and the New York Police Department to address sexual exploitation in the city. As the case proceeds through the federal court system, Khan faces the possibility of spending the remainder of his life in prison if convicted on all counts.