TWO INDICTED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHARGES FOR SELLING VICTIMS FOR SEX AT HOTELS AND RESIDENCES IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS

 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.