Massachusetts man pleads guilty to federal sex trafficking charges

BOSTON — A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to sex trafficking three women and threatening them with violence.

This guilty plea resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Boston Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, and the police departments of Salem, Burlington and Lawrence (Massachusetts), Milford, Connecticut and Franklin Township, New Jersey.

Barry Davis, 38, pleaded guilty to three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion and three counts of interstate transportation with intent to engage in prostitution. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for August 8, 2017.

“Sex trafficking is a deplorable crime which steals the dignity of young, vulnerable victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney William D. Weinreb. “Individuals who seek to profit from the trafficking and abuse of others, and to enforce their will with violence, have no place walking the streets and preying on victims.”

“I want to commend the work of the Boston Police Human Trafficking Unit and all the law enforcement agencies involved with this case,” said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. “Together we are committed to ending the sexual exploitation of vulnerable young women who are victimized by predators like this defendant. Prostitution is not a victimless crime. We will continue to target those who engage in this type of criminal behavior.”

“The United States Marshals Service is dedicated to assisting our law enforcement partners with bringing violent offenders like Barry Davis to justice,” said U.S. Marshal John Gibbons for the District of Massachusetts. “We remain committed to doing our part to support victims of these heinous crimes.”

In April 2015, Davis met a young woman at a driving instruction class and enticed her to leave with him by promising to take care of her and provide a steady supply of heroin. Davis drove her to New Jersey, rented a hotel room, posted an advertisement for sex with her online, and took the money she made having sex with men who responded to the ad. Davis used heroin to coerce the woman, and punched her in the head and threatened her with further harm if she did not follow his rules and prostitute for him.

In August 2015, Davis perpetrated a similar scheme after he picked up two young women from a heroin detox center and drove them to Connecticut. There, he rented a hotel room, posted online advertisements for sex with the women, and took the money they made having sex with men who responded to the ads. Davis used heroin to coerce the women to prostitute for him. Davis also hit one of the women for breaking one of his prostitution rules and threatened to beat the other woman if she did not make enough money prostituting for him.

Each charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to a lifetime in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Each charge of interstate transportation of an individual with the intent to engage in prostitution provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. If the Court accepts the plea agreement, Davis will be sentenced to between 15 and 20 years in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting U.S. Attorney Weinreb, HSI SAC Etre, Boston Police Commissioner Evans and U.S. Marshal Gibbons, made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit and the Lawrence, Salem, Burlington, Milford (Conn.), and Franklin Township (NJ) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah Foley and Kelly Lawrence of Weinreb’s Civil Rights Enforcement Team are prosecuting the case.