Project Safe Childhood - Massachusetts Men Sentenced For Human Trafficking

            CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE:   U.S. Attorney Emily Gray Rice, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Matt Etre and Salem Police Department Chief Paul Donovan today announced that Hansel German, 25, of Boston, Massachusetts, and Andy Pena, 21 of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, were sentenced to eight years in federal prison for their involvement in the trafficking of a minor for prostitution.  Enoc Ayuso of Dorchester, Massachusetts was also sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in the trafficking conspiracy.  A fourth individual, Rafael Reyes, will be sentenced next week in the United States District Court.                                               

            United States Attorney Rice stated:  “One of the highest priorities of the Department of Justice is protecting our children from predators.  Today, we are announcing the results arising out of our prosecution of four individuals who were engaged in a particularly heinous form of child exploitation – human trafficking.  It is only through the collaborative work of law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels and the bravery of a minor child to come forward and tell her story that this case was successfully prosecuted.”

             Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Matt Etre said:   “The announcement of the sentencing of the four individuals today brings a positive end to the USA’s prosecution and to HSI’s and its partners investigation, but the healing of a child victim is still a work in progress.  HSI’s primary goal in pursuing these types of cases is to end this form of modern-day slavery and bring the victims out of the shadows in collaboration with our law enforcement agencies and non-government organizations.  So let this case be a warning to those who feel that they can sexually exploit children and other vulnerable members of our community in New Hampshire that HSI and its partners will use all of their tools to identify you, bring you to justice and help rescue those victims that are living in the shadows.”

            In February of 2014, Homeland Security Investigations, Manchester, New Hampshire, and the Salem, New Hampshire Police Department, with the assistance of the Boston Police Department, rescued a fifteen-year-old 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, Massachusetts to Salem, New Hampshire for prostitution.  Today’s announcement is the result of the successful prosecution of those cases.

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