A Shrewsbury man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for traveling to the Dominican Republican to have sex with underage girls.

Conrad Emile Gallant was also sentenced Thursday in federal court to 10 years of probation upon release. He was given credit for the 16 months he has served since his arrest in March 2012. The 63-year-old Gallant pleaded guilty in April to travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places.

Federal authorities say Gallant traveled to the Dominican Republic several times between February 2011 and February 2012 and had sex with a 14-year-old girl.

The Telegram & Gazette reports that Gallant's lawyer said the girl was a prostitute and the relationship was consensual.

[Associated Press]

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