Boston Man Prostitutes Teen, Pleads Guilty

By TONY SCHINELLA (Patch Staff)

Rafael Reyes, 33, of Boston appeared in United States District Court in Concord, NH, last week and pleaded guilty to crimes involving the transportation of a minor in interstate commerce for prostitution, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald Feith said in a press release.

In February 2014, Homeland Security Investigations, Manchester and Salem NH Police Departments, with the assistance of the Boston Police Department, rescued a minor female who was engaging in prostitution from a Salem hotel room. Upon further investigation, authorities identified multiple individuals who were involved in the scheme to transport the female from Boston to Salem, NH, for prostitution, including Reyes.

Reyes is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2016.

According to the New Hampshire Union Leader, others involved in the case have also pled guilty to various charges.

The case was investigated by police in Boston, Manchester, Salem, andHomeland Security Investigations in conjunction with the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (NH ICAC).

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nick Abramson and Helen Fitzgibbon.

In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visitprojectsafechildhood.gov.