Three from Fall River Indicted in Sex Trafficking of Two Minors

An indictment was unsealed last week in federal court in Boston charging six individuals for their alleged involvement in a sex trafficking conspiracy that victimized two minors and one adult. It is further alleged that the adult victim was trafficked throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island and South Carolina. The defendants allegedly kept all the profits for their own financial gain and used threats and violence to maintain control over the victims.

Christy Parker, 26, of Fall River; Alexander Smalls, 25, of Beaufort County, S.C.; Cory Primo, 42, of Fall River; Avvani Jeffers, 22, of Fall River; Tre’sean Reid, 21, of Beaufort County, S.C.; and Tyreik Reid, 20, of Allendale, S.C., were indicted on charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; sex trafficking of a minor; and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Jeffers was arrested on June 27, 2024 and made an initial appearance later that day. Jeffers is currently detained pending a detention hearing on July 8, 2024. Parker and Primo will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on July 8, 2024. Smalls is awaiting trial in South Carolina and will be arraigned in Boston at a later date. Tyreik Reid will appear in US District Court in South Carolina for a detention hearing on July 10, 2024. Tre’sean Reid is currently a fugitive.

According to court filings, between January and August 2023, Parker and Smalls worked together – with assistance from Primo, Jeffers and Smalls’ brothers, Tre’sean Reid and Tyreik Reid – in a scheme to coerce one adult victim and two minor victims to engage in commercial sex in Massachusetts and surrounding states for their exclusive financial gain. 

It is alleged that, in early 2023, Parker reached out to the adult victim, indicating she was homeless and needed a place to live. After moving in with the victim, Parker and her boyfriend, Smalls, allegedly coerced the victim to quit her job and begin engaging in commercial sex. Parker and Smalls allegedly forced the victim to sign a “profit sharing contact,” which required the victim to “remain loyal and humble and stay focused.” Thereafter, Parker and Smalls allegedly forced the victim to engage in commercial sex – scheduling and coordinating commercial sex acts and setting prices – and took all of the profits. It is alleged that Parker used physical violence, threats of violence and other threats to maintain control. It is further alleged that, in the spring of 2023, Parker travelled with the victim to South Carolina where she continued sex trafficking the victim and collected all of the profits. Upon returning from South Carolina, Parker enlisted help from Primo and Jeffers to traffic the victim throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

In July 2023, Parker was introduced to a 16-year-old minor victim and, shortly thereafter, allegedly compelled the minor victim to begin engaging in commercial sex. Specifically, it is alleged that Parker used various methods to maintain control over the minor victim – including physical violence, threats of violence, alcohol, marijuana, starvation and sleep deprivation. Further, Parker would allegedly beat the minor victim if she fell asleep because a customer could request her at any time. On one occasion, Parker allegedly withheld food from the minor victim for 4-5 days after failing to collect the entire fee from a buyer. It is alleged that Parker regularly beat and choked the minor victim and did not let her receive necessary medical treatment.

In August 2023, Parker allegedly began trafficking a 17-year-old minor victim who had run away from a group home. It is alleged that Parker scheduled sex buyers for the minor victim, from which Parker would collect all of the profits. It is further alleged that Parker threatened to physically assault the minor victim if she did not work.

“The allegations in this case are truly chilling. One minor victim in this case was forced to engage in sex for money with many men. That young girl is someone’s daughter, she is someone’s granddaughter. It is hard to conceive of more vile conduct than what is set forth in these charges. Sex trafficking is not a distant problem – it is happening right here, in our neighborhoods, and often goes unnoticed or unreported,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Our office is relentlessly pursuing individuals who inflict such exploitation and suffering simply to line their own pockets. We are using every resource at our disposal to hold perpetrators accountable and seek justice for every victim.”

“For months, these victims endured brutality and depravity allegedly at the hands of these individuals,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “While these arrests are a significant step toward securing justice, we recognize that this marks only the beginning of three survivors’ paths toward recovery. HSI New England, together with law enforcement partners, is committed to ensuring all trafficking victims are given access to the programs, services and resources necessary to their future healing and success.”

If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov. 

The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to life in prison, no less than five years of supervised release and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, no less than five years of supervised release and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $ 250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, no less than five years of supervised release and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Somerset Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley-Cunniffe, Chief of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.