Latest news with #usdoj.gov
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Boston woman accused of trafficking missing 15-year-old girl for sex
A 29-year-old woman on probation was charged with sex trafficking of a minor after prosecutors say she advertised commercial sex with a 15-year-old girl reported missing. Shakera Pina, of Boston, will appear on the charge in federal court in Boston at a later date. Pina is in state custody on 'related charges,' U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley's office said in a statement. On April 7, law enforcement encountered online postings advertising sex with a 15-year-old girl who had been reported missing. Days later, as part of a sting operation, law enforcement responded to the advertisement, posing as a potential sex buyer. In subsequent conversations, the person who posted the advertisements agreed to meet the purported buyer at a hotel that night for a commercial sex date with the minor. At the hotel, law enforcement 'recovered' a different 15-year-old. Prosecutors say text messages on the minor's phone showed Pina instructing them how to interact with buyers and what to do with the proceeds. Law enforcement found Pina in the parking lot of the hotel, waiting inside her car, according to Foley's office. Pina is accused of fleeing police when they approached her car with flashing emergency lights. Prosecutors say she refused to open her car door to officers who approached on foot and was 'observed manipulating her cell phone ... in an apparent attempt to delete evidence.' Officers then broke the driver's side window of the car. As Pina was being placed on the ground, she threw two cell phones in her possession, according to Foley's office. The 15-year-old girl originally depicted in the advertisement was also found by law enforcement and 'disclosed that Pina also trafficked her during the same time period, requiring her to engage in commercial sex and provide Pina with the proceeds,' according to the statement. At the time, Pina was on probation in connection with an incident in 2022 where prosecutors say she stabbed another woman multiple times in the thigh and abdomen. The charge of sex trafficking a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. Prosecutors urged anyone who may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking or child exploitation to contact Man sentenced to life in prison for killing Boston cab driver remembered as 'loving dad' Ex-Seekonk postmaster spent stolen USPS money at casinos, feds say Cold case investigators hope public can ID Mass. homicide victim after 50 years 'His mercy was never returned': Jordan Cabrera sentenced to 12-15 years for fatally shooting Jahvante Perez Western Mass. man pleads guilty to recording himself raping minors Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Massachusetts man accused of trafficking teen to Four Seasons condo in Baltimore for commercial sex
A Massachusetts man is accused of trafficking an 18-year-old teenager from the Bay State to have commercial sex with a Maryland man at his Four Seasons penthouse condominium in Baltimore, federal officials said. Both men, Darren Zaldivar, 19, of Ludlow, and David Kaufman, 44, of Maryland, are now charged with conspiring to engage in sex trafficking of a minor, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement on Wednesday. Kaufman is also charged with sex trafficking of a minor. Zaldivar is also charged with transporting an individual with intent the individual engage in prostitution. Both men were charged in a superseding indictment announced Wednesday. Kaufman, who was previously charged in April, remains detained in federal custody. Zaldivar was slated to appear in federal court in Boston on Wednesday. On April 16, Kaufman was arrested and charged federally for allegedly coercing and enticing an 18-year-old from Massachusetts to travel to his penthouse condominium at the Four Seasons in Baltimore, Maryland and engage in in sex acts with him, which prosecutors said he video-recorded. A federal grand jury indicted Kaufman on two counts of knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution, and aiding and abetting. According to court documents, Kaufman is accused of victimizing teens and young adults, ranging in ages from 14 to 20, paying them to travel to Baltimore and elsewhere to engage in sex acts with him. Prosecutors allege that Kaufman coerced and enticed some of the victims to travel to his penthouse condominium at the Four Seasons in Baltimore, and elsewhere, to engage in sex acts with him, which he allegedly video recorded. Prosecutors allege Zaldivar conspired with Kaufman in the sex trafficking of a minor victim in 2024. Zaldivar is also alleged to have transported the minor victim with the intent that the victim engage in commercial sex. According to court filings, Kaufman coerced an 18-year-old victim to travel from Massachusetts twice to visit his penthouse condominium at the Four Seasons in Baltimore, paying for the plane tickets. While there, Kaufman allegedly provided the victim with alcohol and drugs, including cocaine, until the victim was intoxicated. Prosecutors allege that Kaufman would then persuade the victim to engage in sex acts 'which Kaufman videotaped so that he could watch them later in order to get pleasure for himself.' Prosecutors allege that in exchange for the sex acts, Kaufman paid the victim with cash, electronic money transfers and gifts. For example, after he engaged in sex acts in February 2024, Kaufman allegedly bought the victim a Louis Vuitton bag. Anyone with information or questions about the investigation or who knows someone experiencing commercial sex trafficking or child exploitation is urged to email For the charge of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor, Zaldivar and Kaufman face a sentence of up to life, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. For the charge of transporting an individual with intent the individual engage in prostitution, Zaldivar faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. For each charge of coercing a person to travel for purposes of prostitution, Kaufman faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. For the charge of sex trafficking a minor, Kaufman faces a sentence of up to life, up to life and no less than five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Boston man arrested for receiving child porn of minors between ages 3 and 10
A Boston man has been arrested for allegedly receiving child pornography with minor victims between the ages of 3 and 10, the U.S. Attorney said Wednesday. Cess Frazier, 32, has been charged with one count of receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. Frazier was arrested Tuesday at his home and he later made his initial appearance in federal court in Boston. He has been ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 1. According to the charging documents, investigators allegedly identified Frazier as a person who who had purchased child sexual abuse material. During a search of Frazier's cell phone approximately 100 media files that depicted child sexual abuse material were allegedly found saved in Telegram Messenger. The minor victims in the files are alleged to be between approximately three and 10 years old, according to prosecutors. If convicted of the charge of receipt of child pornography, Frazier faces a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Yahoo
Mass. repeat sex trafficker sentenced to 13 years in prison
STOUGHTON, Mass. (WWLP) – A Stoughton man who has multiple prior convictions of sex trafficking has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for sex trafficking multiple adult women. Marvin Pompilus, 39, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to four counts of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Brookline man charged for child pornography production Pompilus had been previously convicted of multiple counts of sex trafficking and deriving support for prostitution in 2018, and was released from state prison in 2021. Charging documents state that after Pompilus was released, he used a combination of threats and physical and sexual violence to exploit women into his commercial sex trade, collecting all of the proceeds. He would also take advantage of women dependent on drugs by withholding controlled substances from them unless they engaged in commercial sex acts. Pompilus was said to have required all of his victims to regularly check in with him, forbidding them to interact with other men or purchase drugs from anyone but him. If they did not follow his orders, he would become verbally or physically violent, or isolate them from others. 'Marvin Pompilus is a criminal recidivist and vile perpetrator who deserves a significant sentence to protect our community. His prior conviction did nothing to deter further acts of violence on women and continuing to push drugs onto our streets,' said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. 'Today's sentence highlights our ongoing efforts to hold accountable those who prey on vulnerable victims and denigrate human dignity.' Pompilus was sentenced to 13 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He has also been ordered to pay restitution in an amount that will be determined at a later date. If you or someone you know has been impacted by commercial sex trafficking, contact WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
