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A Milton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to federal sex trafficking charges.
Duhamel Cassagnol, 30, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; engaging in a conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; and transporting an individual for prostitution. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Dec.18, 2018. On Dec. 8, 2017, Cassagnol was arrested along with Geneiva Whaley, 23, of Connecticut. In May 2018, Whaley pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of an individual for prostitution and is scheduled for be sentenced on Oct. 4 2018.
Between approximately July 2014 and February 2016, Cassagnol worked with Whaley to prostitute several victims. Cassagnol and Whaley advertised the victims using online ad-posting sites, including Backpage.com, and housed the victims in hotel rooms reserved in Whaley’s name in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Florida.
The victims being prostituted were addicted to drugs, usually heroin. To keep their victims compliant, Cassagnol and Whaley provided them with drugs in exchange for the income the women earned through prostitution. The victims were only entitled to drugs if they generated income. In some instances, Cassagnol was violent and threatened several of the victims. The violence included beating the victims and, during one instance, forcing a victim to use drugs against her will.
The charge of sex trafficking through force, fraud, or coercion provides for a sentence of no less than 15 years and up to life in prison, no less than five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, no less than five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of transporting an individual for prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, no less than five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Each count also provides for mandatory restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, Lexington and Needham Police Departments, and Vernon (Connecticut) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Pérez-Daple of Lelling’s Civil Rights Enforcement Team is prosecuting the case.
