U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced Friday, Feb. 13, that Rai Thomas, 31, a/k/a “Bandz,” of Mount Vernon, NY, was sentenced to 160 months (13.3 years) in prison for sex trafficking a minor and for use of interstate facilities to promote sex trafficking and prostitution. He said in October 2025, Thomas was convicted at trial before U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román, who imposed the sentence.