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Two Indicted for Sex Trafficking Minor in Warwick, Queens Hotels

The US District Courthouse in Providence, RI.
The US District Courthouse in Providence, RI.
The US District Courthouse in Providence, RI.

PROVIDENCE, RI — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment Tuesday alleging that two Rhode Island men sex trafficked a 17-year-old Rhode Island girl at hotels in Warwick and Queens, N.Y., and at locations in Massachusetts. 

 Additionally, the indictment alleges that an 18-year-old woman was transported by the defendants to Queens, NY to offer her for commercial sexual activity.

 The indictment, unsealed in U.S. District Court in Providence, charges Reysean Williams, a/k/a “Sincere,” 27, of Pawtucket, and Leandro Gomes, a/k/a “Leo,” 18, of Providence, with conspiracy to sex traffic a child, sex trafficking of a child, interstate transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and traveling in interstate with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The defendants, arrested earlier today and arraigned, were ordered detained in federal custody by U.S. District Court Magistrate Lincoln D. Almond.

 The indictment of Reysean Williams and Leandro Gomes’ is announced by Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations for New England; and Cranston Police Chief Colonel Michael J. Winquist.

 According to the indictment, from March 21 to 23, 2017, Williams rented a hotel room in Warwick for the purpose of having a juvenile female engage in several commercial sex acts. During those dates, Williams and Gomes posted Backpage.com advertisements, which offered the sexual services of the juvenile. Gomes collected the payments made to the victim, and gave most if it to Williams.

 Additionally, the indictment alleges that on March 25, 2017, Williams and Gomes transported the juvenile female and an 18-year-old female to a hotel in Queens, NY, for the purpose of engaging in commercial sexual activity. Advertisements were posted on Backpage.com.  Gomes collected the payments made to the victims, and gave most if it to Williams.

 The indictment also alleges that on March 25, 2017, Williams and Gomes traveled to New York for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a person under the age of 18.

 According to state court documents filed in this matter, the victim was located on April 17, 2017, during an investigation by members of the Cranston Police Department Special Victims Unit, working with Homeland Security Investigations.

 An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Cranston Police Department into this matter and into the alleged conduct of the defendants is continuing.

 The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly.

 If convicted as charged in the indictment, the defendants face statutory penalties of 10 years to life imprisonment, to be followed by up to lifetime supervised release.

 Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch thanks the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General for their assistance in this case.

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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