Former Massachusetts Resident Pleaded Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking and Related Charges

A former Brockton, Massachusetts, resident pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and related charges. Matthew Engram, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, two counts of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise. 

As part of the plea hearing held in federal court, Engram admitted that from January 2009 until August 2015, he and a co-conspirator recruited and trafficked three victims from a residence in Brockton, and elsewhere, and Engram took all or part of the proceeds. Engram advertised the victims on websites, exchanged text messages with his co-conspirator to share advertisements, organized prostitution dates, and reserved hotel rooms. When these victims did not comply with Engram’s demands to prostitute for his profit, he physically assaulted them or directed a co-conspirator to physically assault them.  Engram also admitted that he transported, or caused the transport of the victims to other states, including Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Florida and Maine, to perform commercial sex acts. 

“Human trafficking is an insidious crime that exploits vulnerable members of our society, causing unimaginable and lasting harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to using every available resource to prosecute human traffickers and to support human trafficking survivors.”

Sentencing in this matter has been set for May 19, 2022. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking through force, fraud, or coercion provides for a maximum sentence of life in prison, no fewer than five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate travel in aid of racketeering provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of U.S. Attorney Rollins’s Major Crimes Unit and Trial Attorneys Shan Patel and Vasantha Rao of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.