The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office has achieved guilty verdicts against four individuals involved in a sex trafficking operation in the Boston area. After a five-week trial, a Suffolk Superior Court jury found Cristina Lasso, 52, of Saugus; Jose Deblas, 38, of Lynn; Marlon Nagano, 43, of East Boston; and Jorge Lasso, 60, of Chelsea guilty for running four residential brothels from October 2018 to July 2019.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that women from Central and South America were brought to these brothels weekly. The defendants charged numerous customers daily for sexual services with these women. Cristina Lasso led the organization while Jorge Lasso, Deblas, and Nagano supported her by recruiting victims and facilitating operations such as advertising services and managing financial transactions.
Investigators used physical evidence from the brothels along with surveillance footage and digital evidence to secure convictions. Cristina Lasso was convicted on multiple counts including Trafficking Persons for Sexual Servitude and Money Laundering. Jose Deblas faced similar charges alongside Maintaining a House of Prostitution. Marlon Nagano was also found guilty on related charges. Jorge Lasso was convicted of Trafficking Persons for Sexual Servitude and Money Laundering.
Sentencing is set for May 2 at Suffolk Superior Court.
Assistant Attorney General Amanda Paull from the AGO’s Human Trafficking Division and Assistant Attorney General Michael Anderson from the AGO’s Environmental Crimes Strike Force prosecuted the case. They received support from Deputy Chief Edith Ayuso of the Victim Services Division among others within various divisions of the AGO.