Man Admits To Sex Trafficking Women In NJ, 6 Other States: Feds

NEW JERSEY - A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty Tuesday to trafficking five women across several states – including New Jersey – for nearly a decade and forcing them into prostitution, federal authorities said.

Ronald Hall, 48, of Woonsocket, pleaded guilty to four counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and one count of transportation of an individual with intent to engage in prostitution, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael S. Rollins said.

Hall was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2020; sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2022.

"The trauma inflicted upon victims of sex trafficking is beyond measure," the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts said. "This man targeted vulnerable women with substance use disorders and essentially enslaved them. The behavior he engaged in was unconscionable. Although nothing will ever erase the profound, long-lasting hurt and pain these women have suffered at the hands of Mr. Hall, today’s conviction hopefully brings some long-awaited justice and accountability."

From 2010 through 2019, Hall used force, threats and coercion to traffic the women between Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Nevada to engage in prostitution, Rollins said. He regularly scheduled the victims to engage in prostitution – as much as multiple times per day, every day of the week – and took almost all of the proceeds for himself, using starvation, regular threats of injury, physical abuse, forced intercourse, violent assaults with weapons including knives, belts and bats to maintain control, the U.S. Attorney said.

Hall targeted women who suffered from substance use disorder and used their drug addictions to coerce them into engaging in prostitution in exchange for drugs, Rollins added.

Hall punished victims who did not meet the quotas he set for them by withholding drugs or through violence. He also made some of the victims brand themselves with a tattoo of his nickname.

“[Homeland Security Investigations] is not only committed to bringing human traffickers like Hall to justice, but also to ensuring the safety and stability of the survivors of such appalling crimes,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “With this plea HSI New England hopes the survivors of his abuse feel a measure of security knowing that he is no longer at large and is facing considerable time in prison as they begin their journey to heal and recover.”

The sex trafficking charge warrants a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to a lifetime in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, federal authorities said. The charge of transportation for purposes of prostitution also warrants a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

Members of the public who have information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.