Massachusetts man indicted on several sex trafficking charges

BOSTON – A former Brockton man was indicted by a federal jury in Boston on sex trafficking charges.

Matthew Engram, 32 was indicted on two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, one count of attempted sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, two counts of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise.

“Sex traffickers prey on especially vulnerable young people and exploit them for profit in terrible ways,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “This is one of the most serious crimes we prosecute, and we will continue to devote significant resources to targeting and punishing those who commit this offense.”

“The Department of Justice is committed to eradicating the horrendous and immoral crime of sex trafficking as demonstrated by today’s indictment,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to prosecute human traffickers and seek out justice on behalf of victims and survivors of all forms of human trafficking.”

As alleged in the indictment, from January 2009 until summer 2015, Engram recruited and trafficked three victims from a residence in Brockton, and elsewhere, and took all or part of the proceeds. Engram advertised on websites, exchanged text messages sharing advertisements, organized prostitution dates and reserved hotel rooms. Engram also allegedly transported, or caused to transport, the victims to other states, including Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Florida and Maine, to perform commercial sex acts.

The charges of sex trafficking through force, fraud, or coercion or attempted sex trafficking each provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Lelling; Assisting Attorney General Dreiband; and Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus, of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit, and Trial Attorneys Shan Patel, Vasantha Rao and Maryam Zhuravitsky of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.