A former Brockton man was sentenced to 12 years in prison following his conviction on sex trafficking charges.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says that 35-year-old Matthew Engram, a/k/a “Magic,” recruited and trafficked three identified victims, as well as others, from a residence in Brockton and elsewhere to engage in commercial sex acts and took all or part of the proceeds.
Between January 2009 and August 2015 Engram, aided by co-conspirator Natashia Bowman, recruited the victims and others by falsely promising good earnings, then advertised the victims on websites, exchanged text messages with Bowman to share advertisements, organized prostitution dates and reserved hotel rooms.
The U.S. Attorney says Engram used physical assault, intimidation and isolation to create a climate of fear to force the victims to cooperate.
The victims were also transported to other states, including Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Florida and Maine.
Engram previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, 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.
Bowman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 9.
Engram will also face five years of supervised release.
Photo Credit: City Of Madeira Beach, Fl.
