Reza Moazami sentenced to 23 years in prison for running teenage prostitution ring

A British Columbia man found guilty of luring teenage girls into prostitution has been sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Crown prosecutors in the case had asked for a 20-year sentence forRezaMoazami, who was found guilty of 30 of 36 charges, including sexual exploitation, sexual assault and living off the avails of prostitution.

His 11 victims ranged in age from 14 to 19 and his case was the first human-trafficking conviction in the province.

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The court heard during his trial that Moazami, then in his mid-20s,recruited vulnerable girls by promising them drugs, alcohol and in one instance a puppy.

Moazami was arrested in 2011 and spent more than three years in custody. As part of his sentencing, Justice Catherine Bruce gave himextra credit for that time.

It means 17 years remain on Moazami's sentence.

Moazami testified in his own defence at his trial, saying he didn't know the teens were underage and that he hadn't been living off the money they earned while having sex with a dozen men a day on average.