Brockton Woman Sentenced to Probation for Sex Trafficking

BROCKTON — A 35-year-old woman was sentenced last week in federal court in Boston for her role in a Brockton-based organization that coerced young women to engage in prostitution under the threat of violence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Natashia Bowman of Brockton will spend three years on probation and was ordered to pay restitution to victims following her sentencing on Sept. 15, the agency said.

Bowman had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate travel for a racketeering enterprise related to a prostitution business in September 2020.

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Bowman and co-conspirator Matthew Engram, known as "Magic," were charged in November 2019 for running the sex trafficking operation out of a Brockton home.

Engram pleaded guilty in February and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Bowman helped Engram recruit and traffic multiple victims out of a Brockton house from January 2009 until August 2015.

She helped transport the victims to various hotels and other locations — sometimes across state lines — so that they could engage in commercial sex acts, taking part of the proceeds along with Engram.

Bowman and Engram recruited victims by promising good earnings, advertised them on websites, and organized and transported them for prostitution dates.

Engram used physical violence, intimidation, and isolation to maintain control and compel the victims to continue engaging in sex acts for money.

When the victims did not comply, he physically assaulted them or told Bowman to physically assault them, according to the office.

Victims were occasionally taken to other states including Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont for commercial sex purposes.