Two-State Sex Trafficking Case Originates in Arlington

Three people who participated in a conspiracy in August 2014 of trafficking two females, one of them a minor, from Boston into Rhode Island for the purpose of offering them for commercial sexual activity, were recently sentenced by a federal judge.

Case Background from the U.S. Department of Justice:

On August 19, 2014, a 17-year-old female was taken from South Station in Boston, and driven by the defendants to Rhode Island for the purpose of being trafficked for commercial sexual activity.

On August 22, 2014, Ricky Wallace offered a 20-year-old Boston area woman a ride from South Station in Boston to nearby Cambridge, Mass. Instead of driving her to Cambridge, she was driven to Pawtucket and then to a motel in Seekonk, Mass ., where she was photographed and offered on Backpage.com for commercial sexual activity. The woman repeatedly asked that she be driven back to the Boston area. The next day the woman was able to get away from Wallace and had contact with Seekonk Police, who was assisted by Rhode Island State Police in their investigation.

According to the victim, she was driven to the same Pawtucket, R.I., residence where she was located by law enforcement six days later and rescued by FBI agents, Pawtucket, R.I., Police and Central Falls, R.I., Police. She was located after she contacted a group home in the Boston area in which she resided, who in turn contacted the FBI.

Provocative photographs taken of the victim were posted in advertisements placed on Backpage.com.

This case originated with the Arlington Police Department and an Arlington Police Detective, who is assigned to the Federal Task Force that investigates cases of missing and exploited children.

Three individuals who participated in a conspiracy in August 2014 trafficking two females, one of them a minor, from Boston into Rhode Island for the purpose of offering them for commercial sexual activity were sentenced in a Providence federal court by United States District Court Judge Mary M Lisi.

• Kemont Bowie, 35, of Central Falls, R.I., was sentenced on October 20 to 13 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. On June 11, 2015 Bowie pleaded guilty to conspiracy, sex trafficking of a child and transportation of a minor for sexual activity
• Ricky Wallace, 34, of Pawtucket, R.I., was sentenced on August 14, 2015, to 12 years in federal prison, followed by five years’ supervised release, for his participation in the conspiracy. On March 23, 2015, Wallace pleaded guilty to one count of each conspiracy, sex trafficking of a child and transportation of a minor for sexual activity, and two counts of transportation of an individual for sexual activity.
• Raechyl Spooner, 21, of Pawtucket, R.I., was sentenced on October 8, 2015, to three years’ probation. On June 12, 2015, Spooner pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.

Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan praised the strong police work that has led to the resolution of a sex trafficking case and brought three sex traffickers to justice.

“We will find and prosecute those who choose to exploit innocent victims and ensure justice is served,” Chief Ryan said. “I would like applaud the hard work and dedication by our Arlington Police Detectives, our partners in the FBI, and Assistant US Attorney Adi Goldstein for ridding our community of three dangerous individuals.”

The sentences were announced on Wednesday by U.S. Attorney Peter F Neronha; Harold H Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston field office of the FBI; Pawtucket Police Chief Paul King; Central Falls Police Chief Colonel James J Mendonca; Colonel Steven G O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; United States Marshal Jamie A Hainsworth; and Arlington, Mass., Police Chief Frederick Ryan.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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