PROVIDENCE – Authorities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have arrested 13 people amid investigations aimed at cracking down on human trafficking and exploitation during the World Cup, officials said Tuesday.
Rhode Island State Police announced six arrests made during “Operation Red Card” in coordination with Massachusetts State Police and the FBI, among other agencies. The operation “targeted individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts, child exploitation, and other activities associated with human trafficking,” officials said.
The FBI’s Boston office said Tuesday special agents and officers with the Children Exploitation-Human Trafficking Task Force arrested seven people between June 12 and June 16 on charges of sex for a fee with a child under 18, enticement of a child under 16, and attempted rape of a child. The arrests were made during “ongoing efforts to address human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children before, during, and after the World Cup matches,” the FBI said.
“While major international sporting events bring significant economic and cultural benefits to host communities, they may also create opportunities for traffickers and those who exploit vulnerable populations,” Rhode Island State Police said in a statement. “Law enforcement agencies throughout the region remain committed to proactive enforcement efforts designed to deter human trafficking, identify victims, and hold offenders accountable.”
Authorities have made a broad push to raise public awareness on the issues as crowds from around the world have descended on New England to take in soccer games at “Boston Stadium” in Foxborough, Mass.
Earlier this month, the US Marshals Service said “Operation Yellow Card,” an operation focused on fighting child trafficking during the World Cup, had already led to the safe recovery of 35 “high-risk missing” Massachusetts children from as far away as Georgia and Texas since April. The children have been reunited with family members or placed with protective service agencies, officials said at the time.
Law enforcement officials have said they’re working with people in hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality or transit entities to spot and report trafficking, but the public can also call 911 or the national human-trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to report concerns.
The seven arrests announced Tuesday by the FBI include:
- Julio Aguilar, 42, of Saugus, Mass.
- Kenneth M. Berry, 45, of Middleboro, Mass.
- Manjil Bhusal, 21, of Somerville, Mass.
- Jonathan Matthew William Durocher, 34, of Brockton, Mass.
- Trevon Hubbard, 31, of Middleboro, Mass.
- Krish R. Patel, 26, of Quincy, Mass.
- Gerald Sabatinelli, 71, of Hyannis, Mass.
All have been arraigned in Brockton District Court, officials said.
The six arrests announced Tuesday by the Rhode Island State Police include:
- Richard Lallier, 34, of Rehoboth, Mass., who was charged with attempted enticement; attempted interstate travel for sexual contact with a minor under 16; and attempted transmission of obscene material to a minor, police said.
- Joshua Lincoln, 27, of North Providence, R.I., who was charged with indecent solicitation of a minor and electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor prohibited, police said.
- Jacob Palazzo, 26, of Cranston, R.I., who was charged with indecent solicitation of a minor, police said.
- Franco Miccoli, 60, of Johnston, R.I., who was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee, police said.
- Travis Shaw, 38, of Tiverton, R.I., who was charged with electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor prohibited, police said.
- Rocky Joseph, 38, of Central Falls, R.I., who was charged with electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor prohibited, police said.
All of the suspects have since been arraigned, Rhode Island State Police said.
Material from previous Globe stories was used in this report.
Christopher Gavin can be reached at christopher.gavin@globe.com.