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Thursday, November 14, 2024

Six indicted for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in Massachusetts

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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland & Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco | https://www.justice.gov/agencies/chart/map

An indictment was unsealed last week in Boston charging Christy Parker, 26; Alexander Smalls, 25; Cory Primo, 42; Avvani Jeffers, 22; Tre’sean Reid, 21; and Tyreik Reid, 20, with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and other related charges.

According to the indictment, between January and August 2023, Parker, Smalls, Tre’sean Reid and Tyreik Reid used force, threats of force, fraud and coercion to compel an adult woman to engage in commercial sex. Additionally, between July and August 2023, Parker, Smalls, Primo and Jeffers allegedly used similar methods to compel a minor into commercial sex. The indictment further alleges that in August 2023, Parker, Primo and Jeffers knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided for or maintained another minor for commercial sex. All defendants are also charged with conspiring to commit sex trafficking during the same period.

Jeffers was arrested on June 27 and made an initial appearance later that day. She is currently detained pending a detention hearing on July 8. Parker and Primo will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on July 8. Smalls is awaiting trial in South Carolina and will be arraigned in Boston at a later date. Tyreik Reid will appear in U.S. District Court in South Carolina for a detention hearing on July 10. Tre’sean Reid is currently a fugitive.

If convicted of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. For sex trafficking of a minor convictions carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment with the possibility of life imprisonment as well. Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts; and Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England Field Office made the announcement.

The Somerset Police Department along with HSI New England Field Office are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley-Cunniffe for the District of Massachusetts and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa from the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting this case.

HSI requests anyone with information about the defendants to contact their New England Field Office at (617) 565-7400. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.

An indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

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