JERSEY CITY -- The boss of a North Jersey prostitution ring was sentenced to 18 years in prison today for crimes including forcing a 14-year-old runaway into having sex with up to 10 men per day.

"I may be a lot of things, but I don't feel like a bad person," said Michael McLeod, 25, of Jersey City, before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mitzy Galis-Menendez sentenced him to nearly two decades in prison.

"I take responsibility to my actions," said McLeod, who was also given a $15,000 human trafficking fine. "I'm not saying I'm completely innocent, but I don't think that I'm completely guilty either... I just want to say I'm sorry. I ask for another chance. I just beg for some kind of leniency."

However, Galis-Menendez had a stern message for McLeod.

"Selling a child for sex is never OK," she said during today's sentencings, which included three others charged in connection to the ring.

David Powell Jr., 29, of Jersey City, and Demetrius James Hayward, 20, of Summerville, South Carolina, both pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy to facilitate human trafficking. Powell was sentenced to six years in prison today and Hayward was sentenced to five years.

Tyree D. Jeter, 28, of Jersey City, was also sentenced to six years in prison with no chance of parole until after he serves three years. He was also fined $15,000.

All four pleaded guilty to the charges in March after being indicted in October 2015.

The investigation began when the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force in Atlantic City received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that photos of the 14-year-old victim -- a runaway from South Jersey -- were being used in ads for a "female escort" on backpage.com, officials said.

The investigation revealed that McLeod used violence or the threat of violence to control the 14-year-old girl for four weeks, as well as an 18-year-old woman. McLeod once held a gun to the head of the 18-year-old and threatened to kill her. Other times, he beat and kicked her, authorities said previously.

McLeod and his assistants put the victims up in hotels where they were required to have sex with up to 10 customers a day, making up to $800 -- all of which McLeod collected. They were moved to a new location every few days, authorities said.

An undercover detective from the FBI Task Force called the number from a backpage.com ad containing photos of the missing runaway and arranged a "date" for April 9, 2015, at a motel room in Secaucus. When the detective went to the motel, he was met by the 14-year-old, as well as the 18-year-old victim, who was assigned to keep track of the girl. After the 14-year-old offered the detective sex for money, officers entered the motel room and took custody of the two teenagers, authorities said.

Further investigation revealed McLeod's status as "pimp" or "boss," as well as the roles of the other men. McLeod relied on Powell, Hayward and Jeter to control the girls when he was not around and ensure they did not leave, authorities said.

Officials said Powell would act as a "body guard" for the girls, waiting outside while they were with customers, while Hayward transported the girls between hotels. Hayward and Powell also brought food to the girls or took them out to eat because McLeod did not let them have any money. McLeod collected all of the money the girls earned and gave Hayward, Powell and Jeter a small percentage, authorities said.

During Powell's sentencing, his attorney, Janet Costello told Galis-Menendez that "He knows that what went on is disgusting."

When speaking of what the girl had been through, Costello said: "Frankly, I don't think any 14-year-old could ever recover from it fully."