Local Businessman Charged with Sex Trafficking a Minor

EAST GREENWICH, RI—The CEO of a local hydroponically-grown produce facility who lives part-time in East Greenwich is facing child sex trafficking charges.

Lewis Valenti, 41, the CEO of Atlantic Produce, which sells lettuce and herbs under the Boston Greens brand, told authorities he was being blackmailed by two men who were trafficking a teenage girl. Valenti claimed that he had sex with the girl before Kedwin Vargas, 25, and Rene Laureano, 30, both of Roxbury, MA, threatened to tell his family that he had sexual encounters with the girl in exchange for $10,000.

Both Laureano and Vargas were charged last week in connection with the sex trafficking case. Valenti was charged Tuesday with conspiracy to transport a minor interstate for prostitution and transporting a minor interstate for prostitution, according to U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha.

Valenti, of 60 Crompton Ave., East Greenwich, is free on $50,000 unsecured bond and is on home confinement at his house in Reading, MA.

According to a criminal complaint, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rhode Island State Police discovered that Vargas began posting ads on backpage.com offering the girl for prostitution more than a year ago.

The girl, according to the complaint, was Vargas' then-17-year-old girlfriend.

On numerous occasions, Laureano, who used to work at Atlantic Produce, "would drive the female to meet with customers, including Valenti."

Valenti admitted to investigators that he had six with the girl "on numerous occasions" over the past two years at his apartment in East Greenwich and at several local hotels.

Though Valenti blew the whistle on the sex trafficking of the girl, investigators concluded that Valenti was a co-conspirator and the charges indicate that his actions were an attempt to spare himself rather than out of concern of the sex trafficking victim.

A lawyer for Valenti told the Providence Journal that the businessman intends to step down as CEO.

Laurenano reportedly told police that Valenti paid about $700 for an encounter and more for additional sexual activities.