TWO INDICTED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHARGES FOR SELLING VICTIMS FOR SEX AT HOTELS AND RESIDENCES IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Two Sex Buyers Also Charged; Victims
Allegedly Trafficked in Brockton, Westwood, and Boston
BOSTON — Two men have
been indicted in connection with trafficking victims for sex at various hotels
and residences in Eastern Massachusetts, Attorney General Maura Healey
announced today. Two other men have been charged in connection with
purchasing sex for a fee.
On
Thursday, a Statewide Grand Jury indicted Gabriel Jean Marie, age 35, of
Brockton, and Tremaine Wilder, age 32, of Taunton, on charges of Trafficking Persons for Sexual Servitude (3 counts each)
and Conspiracy (1 count each). Jean Marie and Wilder will be arraigned in
Suffolk, Norfolk, and Plymouth Superior Courts at later dates.
A Statewide Grand Jury also indicted Patterson Skeete, age 56, of Jamaica Plain, and
Michael Webster, age 37, of Randolph, for Sex for a Fee (1 count each). Skeete
will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court at a later date and Webster will be
arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court at a later date.
The investigation was
conducted by members of the Boston Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit,
Massachusetts State Police High-Risk Victims’ Unit and the FBI’s Human
Trafficking-Child Exploitation Task Force, with assistance from the Massachusetts
State Police assigned to the AG’s Office.
During
the course of the investigation, authorities developed evidence that Jean Marie allegedly recruited victims for commercial sex.
Jean Marie and Wilder allegedly posted advertisements on websites known to
advertise commercial sex, transported victims, paid for hotel rooms, and trafficked victims
in places including Brockton, Westwood, and Boston. The full proceeds from the commercial sex went directly
to Jean Marie.
The investigation revealed that both Skeete and Webster allegedly bought commercial sex,
facilitated by Jean Marie and Wilder.
These charges are
allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
AG
Healey has a dedicated Human Trafficking Division that focuses on policy,
prevention and prosecution and includes a team of specialized prosecutors,
victim advocates and Massachusetts State Police Troopers who handle high
impact, multi-jurisdictional human trafficking investigations and prosecutions
across the state. Through the Human Trafficking Division, the AG’s Office has
charged more than 60 individuals in connection with human trafficking since the
state’s anti-trafficking laws went into effect in 2012.
This
case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Nancy Rothstein, of the
AG’s Human Trafficking Division and Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney
Anna Holding, who was made a Special Assistant Attorney General to continue her
work on the case as part of its transfer. Also assisting are members of the AG’s
Victim Services Division and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Victim
Witness Assistance Program, along with Financial Investigator Jill Petruzziello
and Digital Evidence Lab Director Christopher Kelly, both from the AG’s Office.
The investigation was handled by the Boston Police Department’s Human
Trafficking Unit, the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the High-Risk
Victims’ Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking-Child
Exploitation Task Force, and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the
AG’s Human Trafficking Division.
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