35-year old Massachusetts man pleads guilty to sex trafficking

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A former Brockton man pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to sex trafficking charges.

Matthew Engram, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex; trafficking two counts of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution; and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for May 19, 2022.

From January 2009 until August 2015, Engram and a co-conspirator recruited and trafficked three identified victims, as well as others, from a residence in Brockton and elsewhere to engage in commercial sex acts and took all or part of the proceeds. Engram advertised on websites, exchanged text messages with his co-conspirator to share advertisements, organized prostitution dates and reserved hotel rooms. When the victims did not comply with Engram’s demands to prostitute themselves for his profit, he physically assaulted them or directed his co-conspirator to physically assault them. Engram also transported, or caused to transport, the victims to other states, including Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Florida and Maine, to perform commercial sex acts.

The charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long; and Brockton Police Chief Emanuel Gomes made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Philadelphia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus, of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit and Trial Attorneys Shan Patel and Vasantha Rao of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

About Michael Silvia

Served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Owner of New Bedford Guide.

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