Warwick, RI —Damien Beverly, 29, of Providence pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to charges that he trafficked two women from Boston to Warwick for sex, and conspired to traffic heroin to give them in exchange.
Beverly pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha announced in a release sent to media Tuesday.
Tariq Rosario, 28, of Boston, Mass., pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin in connection with the crimes.
According to an the results of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations agents and members of the Rhode Island State Police, and law enforcement members of the Rhode Island Human Trafficking Task Force, Beverly encountered one of the victims in downtown Boston in June or July 2014.
Beverly brought the woman to a hotel room in Warwick he had rented, where he photographed her and persuaded her to post an advertisement on Backpage.com, with the intent that she work as a prostitute.
Over the next several days, several individuals responded to the advertisement. All of the money collected by the victim was turned over to Beverly, who in exchange provided the woman with heroin that he obtained from Rosario.
In September 2014, Beverly met a second woman in Boston where she was homeless and addicted to heroin and cocaine. He persuaded her to travel to Rhode Island, promising her that he would provide her with housing and drugs in exchange for working as a prostitute.
The woman lived with Beverly in Providence, and they posted numerous advertisements on Backpage.com offering the woman as a prostitute. All of the money earned by the victim was turned over to Beverly in exchange for housing, food and a daily supply of heroin.
In late September or early October 2014, according to Neronha’s office, the first victim, who had since returned to Boston, was persuaded to return to Rhode Island, and to live and work with Beverly and the second victim. All of the money earned by both women was turned over to Beverly. In exchange for working as prostitutes, Beverly provided the victims with between 3-5 grams of heroin daily, which he obtained from Rosario.
in January 2015, the Rhode Island State Police and HSI agents executed a court authorized search warrant at the Providence residence where the victims were staying with Beverly. Beverly was detained and the victims were rescued by law enforcement and provided support services.
Both Beverly, who has been detained since his arrest on Jan. 13, 2015, and Rosario, who has been detained since his arrest on Sept. 18, 2015, are scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 5, 2016.
Author: Rob Borkowski
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