1 Arraigned In Cape Cod Human Trafficking Case

SOUTH YARMOUTH, MA — A month-long investigation led to the arrest of a Sandwich woman for exploiting and coordinating sexual acts for money, officials said.

While on patrol assigned to the evening shift in early September, a Yarmouth police officer observed a vehicle pull up beside another vehicle in a grocery store parking lot. A female got out of one car and entered the other, officials said.

"After a few minutes, the interior light came on, and he noticed the windows were fogged over from steam," police said. "A short time later, the woman got out, adjusted her skirt, got back into the other car and left."

Based on these observations, the officer stopped the car to investigate further.

The driver, identified as Rina Hernandez-Alcantara, 38, of Sandwich, provided inconsistent information, "raising his suspicion that this may be a case of human trafficking," police said.

Through a Spanish-speaking interpreter, the officer learned that Hernandez-Alcantara coordinated and transported the woman to numerous men to provide sexual acts for money through a series of arrangements, fake names and WhatsApp transactions.

At the culmination of the investigation, with the assistance of local and regional partners, as well as the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office, a warrant was issued for Hernandez-Alcantara’s arrest.

Just before 4 p.m. on Oct. 22, police conducted a traffic stop and took Hernandez-Alcantara into custody. Hernandez-Alcantara was charged with trafficking of a person for sexual servitude and released on $500.00 bail.

She was arraigned in Barnstable District Court on Thursday morning.