Brockton Man Admits to Running Sex Trafficking Operation

BROCKTON — A Brockton man pleaded guilty to federal sex trafficking charges yesterday after he was caught running a sex trafficking operation for several years out of a Brockton home.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said 35-year-old Matthew Engram and a co-conspirator transported victims from Brockton to various hotel rooms — often across state lines — to perform commercial sex acts, keeping all or part of the proceeds.

On Thursday Engram pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, two counts of transporting a person for prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel for a racketeering enterprise.

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From January 2009 until August 2015, Engram and the co-conspirator recruited and trafficked three identified victims, as well as others, out of Brockton and elsewhere, according to the office.

The victims were occasionally taken to other states, including Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Florida and Maine, to perform commercial sex acts.

Engram advertised on websites, organized prostitution dates and reserved hotel rooms, the office stated.

When the victims did not comply with Engram’s demands, he physically assaulted them or directed his co-conspirator to physically assault them.

He faces a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

Sentencing is set for May 19.

“Human trafficking is an insidious crime that exploits vulnerable members of our society, causing unimaginable and lasting harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division.

“The Justice Department is committed to using every available resource to prosecute human traffickers and to support human trafficking survivors.”