News Summary
Boston police arrested 13 people in a human trafficking initiative aimed at addressing sexual exploitation and drug-related activities in the Mass and Cass area. This multi-agency effort involved local and federal law enforcement to combat issues tied to homelessness, addiction, and mental health crises. Nine of the arrested individuals were charged with paying for sex. This operation highlights ongoing concerns regarding public safety and health in an area increasingly affected by crime and social issues.
Boston police arrested 13 individuals on Monday in a human trafficking operation targeting sexual exploitation and drug activity in the notorious Mass and Cass area. This initiative aimed to address the significant issues related to homelessness, addiction, and mental illness that have plagued the area, particularly at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, near Newmarket Square.
The operation was a collaborative effort involving the Boston Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit, Massachusetts State Police Special Services Section High-Risk Victims Unit, and the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Officers engaged in the operation spent time observing the area around Allerton and Pompeii streets to identify and document alleged criminal activities before making arrests.
Of the 13 individuals arrested, nine were charged with paying for sex and have since been released on personal recognizance. The ages of those arrested ranged from 26 to 49 years old. Among the arrested were:
- Eliphete Pierre, 33, of Brockton
- Nathan McGuire, 48, of Boston (also arrested on an outstanding warrant)
- Donell P. Bernard, 38, of Brockton
- Stephen C. Leong, 40, of Marshfield
- Jamal Pryor, 49, of Boston
- Rey F. Becceril, 47, of Brockton
- Christifier C. Littlewood, 43, of Winchendon
- Cristian Brito-Delahera, 26, of Melrose
- Obdulio Perez Ixcot, 44, of Everett
- Mohamed A. Mahgoub, 31, of Boston
- Adam C. Evans, 46, of Brockton (pleaded not guilty to Class B drug possession)
- Gedenilson C. Ribeiro, 40, of Everett (faced charges of paying for sex and resisting arrest)
- Ralph Milord, 30, of Stoughton (arrested on outstanding default warrants)
The primary objectives of this operation included reducing sexual exploitation, disrupting the recruitment of victims, curbing property crime, and mitigating blight-related concerns in the Mass and Cass area. The initiative reflects a broader commitment to improving public safety and health as conditions in the neighborhood have increasingly deteriorated, leading to drug use and related violence.
In response to these worsening conditions, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn has called for a resolution that would declare Mass and Cass a public health, safety, and humanitarian crisis. He indicated that the city’s previous attempts to address the situation over the past decade have been largely ineffective in curbing the challenges faced by the community.
Furthermore, State Senator Nick Collins emphasized the necessity for continued collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to effectively address human trafficking and drug dealing in this area, recognizing the complexities and interrelated issues that contribute to the ongoing crisis.
Those arrested in the operation are expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Court in the coming days, as authorities continue to tackle the serious concerns that plague the Mass and Cass area. The operation marks a significant step towards addressing the pressing social issues of human trafficking and drug-related crimes that have troubled Boston’s public spaces.
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Additional Resources
- Boston 25 News
- Wikipedia: Human Trafficking
- Boston.com
- Google Search: Boston human trafficking
- Boston Herald
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Sex Trafficking
- WCVB News
- Google News: Boston Mass and Cass
- Boston Globe
- Google Scholar: Human Trafficking in Boston
- CBS News
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