David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal jury in Hartford has convicted David Marshall, also known as "Saint," 40, from Bristol. The charges include sex trafficking, obstruction of justice, and violation of a protective order.
The trial revealed that between January and April 2022, Marshall forced a victim into commercial sex work for his financial gain. He allegedly raped and beat her if she did not comply with his demands. He further controlled the victim by getting her addicted to fentanyl and threatening her family. In March 2022, after an arrest by Cromwell Police for threats against her life, the victim obtained a protective order against him.
Marshall was arrested again on April 27, 2022, in Freeport, Maine after he severely assaulted the victim. While incarcerated, he violated the protection order by contacting the victim to dissuade her from cooperating with law enforcement and urged her to continue prostitution to fund his bail. Additionally, he attempted to have evidence erased from his phone but was thwarted by FBI intervention.
On May 10, 2023, while detained federally, Marshall wrote a letter instructing a family member to "harass" the victim to prevent her testimony.
Marshall also forcibly trafficked another woman between 2017 and 2022 using similar coercive tactics for financial benefit over nearly two years.
The trial commenced on April 30, 2025. On May 8th, Marshall was found guilty of two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; two counts of attempted obstruction of sex trafficking enforcement; and one count of interstate violation of a protection order causing serious bodily injury. However, he was acquitted on one count of sex trafficking by force.
Sentencing is pending without a set date. Marshall faces at least 15 years imprisonment up to life imprisonment. He has been detained since April 27th last year.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Newington Police Department, Cromwell Police Department, Freeport (Maine) Police Department along with Connecticut's Department of Correction. Assistant U.S Attorneys Angel Krull Shan Patel Alexis Beyerlein are prosecuting this case while Sullivan expressed gratitude towards Maine’s U.S Attorney Office for their assistance.
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