FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 17, 2025
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for
Rape and Sex Trafficking of a Child
Defendant Groomed 13-Year-Old Girl He Met on Social Media
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an East Flatbush man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for the rape and sex trafficking of a young girl he met on social media and then arranged for her to have sex with men for money.
District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant preyed on a vulnerable child, manipulating and exploiting her in the most depraved way imaginable. Today’s sentence ensures that he is held accountable for his horrific actions, but it also underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting children from predators who use social media to lure and traffic victims. My office will continue to seek justice for survivors and work tirelessly to dismantle networks that profit from such exploitation.”
The District Attorney identified the defendant as Kal Kirby, 45, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. Kirby was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to nine years in prison and five years’ post release supervision. He pleaded guilty to second-degree rape and sex trafficking of a child on January 22, 2025. He must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The case against his co-defendant, Jordan Shepard Burnham, 46 of Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, who is charged with second- and third-degree rape, endangering the welfare of a child, and related charges, is still pending.
The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, beginning in February 2022, the 13-year-old victim started communicating with Kirby on a social networking app called “Monkey” and then on Instagram. Shortly thereafter, they agreed to meet in person. Kirby sent a cab to pick up the victim at her Intermediate School and take her to his apartment. They played video games, ate fast food, and engaged in sexual intercourse. They continued to meet on a weekly basis through December 2022.
In September 2022, the victim went to Kirby’s apartment after school and there were four or five other men there. Each of the men engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim, who felt that she couldn’t refuse and complied, according to the evidence. She then left the apartment.
Furthermore, it is alleged, that on October 14, 2022, Kirby allegedly sent a photo of the victim in her underwear to Burnham and said he “had a young thing I wanted to introduce.” Burnham allegedly liked the image. On October 27, 2022, Kirby allegedly sent a naked video of the victim to Burnham and later set up a meeting for Burnham and the victim to engage in sexual intercourse.
Finally, it is alleged, between November 1, 2022 and December 23, 2022, Burnham and the victim engaged in sexual intercourse on three occasions. After the second time, he allegedly gave her a pair of headphones and after the third time, he allegedly gave her $200. In subsequent communications on Instagram, Burnham allegedly requested and received lewd photos of the victim.
In late December 2022, the victim disclosed what had been happening to her foster mother and police were notified.
The New York City Police Department investigation was led by Detective Liam O’Hara of the NYPD’s Human Trafficking Squad, under the supervision of Sergeant Kevin Kavanagh, Lieutenant Amy Capogna and Captain Maripily Clase.
The District Attorney thanked Police Chief Christopher Searle, Lieutenant Nicholas Curelli and police officers from the Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts Police Department and the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office for their assistance with the investigation.
The District Attorney thanked Paralegal Special Aurora Martinez for her assistance on the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Mary E. Monahan, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney David Weiss, Unit Chief, under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the Special Victims Bureau.
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