New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“A Springfield man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a sex trafficking offense involving a minor.
Carlos Casillas, 48, was indicted on one count of sex trafficking of a minor. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield on May 23, 2022 before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson, Casillas was released on conditions pending a further hearing which is scheduled for June 23, 2022.
According to the indictment, on or about Sept. 3, 2021 in West Springfield, Casillas caused a child under the age of 18 to engage in a commercial sex act.
On Feb. 10, 2022, Casillas was arrested on charges in Springfield District Court of aggravated rape of a child and enticing a child.
Members of the public who believe they, or someone they know, may be a victim of this crime should contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please visit https://polarisproject.org/ for information and resources.
The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 10 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni; Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi; and West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.” -Massachusetts Department of Justice.
