Man sentenced to prison in Fall River concerning Bristol County prostitution ring

A 39-year-old Massachusetts man arrested in October of 2020 for operating a small prostitution ring at a local motel was sentenced to state prison last week, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Leonard Jenkins of Lynn pled guilty in Fall River Superior Court on April 21 to indictments charging him with Deriving Support from Prostitution, Attempt to Suborn Perjury and Intimidation.

On October 26, 2020, Seekonk Police patrol officers were dispatched to the Quality Inn at 341 Highland Avenue in response to a call from a woman claiming she was being held against her will and hiding in the front lobby. Upon arrival, police were told by the female that Jenkins had thrown a television remote control at her, and wouldn’t let her leave because of a “debt.” The woman explained she has sex with men for money in order to pay off her debt to him. She also said her daughter does the same thing and gives the money to Jenkins. She told police they were staying in room 150. Police went to the room, and in plain view, found lingerie and adult DVDs. The woman described Jenkins’s vehicle which officers remembered seeing drive off at a high rate of speed when they arrived at the Quality Inn. Police located Jenkins at nearby at a gas station and placed him under arrest.

A follow up Grand Jury investigation conducted by Assistant District Attorney Shawn Guilderson confirmed the woman’s statements to police.

In addition to a three year state prison sentence, Judge Raffi Yessayan also placed Jenkins on supervised probation for another year.

“I am glad the defendant was held accountable for selling the victims’ sexual services for money. He clearly took advantage of the victims in a manipulative and despicable way,” District Attorney Quinn said.