Buffalos Gang Members Nabbed in Child Sex Trafficking

BOSTON – The streets of Dorchester aren’t just paved with potholes and broken promises. They’re stained with the exploitation of children. Two members of the notorious Thetford Avenue Buffalos street gang are facing serious time after confessing to trafficking minors for sex, federal authorities announced today.

Anthony Pledger, 27, also known as “Polo,” pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking of two minors before U.S. District Judge William G. Young. The charges stem from an October 2013 incident where Pledger transported 16- and 15-year-old victims from Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island, with the intent to force them into prostitution. Thankfully, a joint operation between Rhode Island and Massachusetts law enforcement rescued the girls before any sexual acts occurred. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was a calculated attempt to profit from vulnerable kids.

Pledger isn’t working alone. Miriam Kizzie, 21, also known as “Keys,” already copped to two counts of sex trafficking on February 11, 2015. Kizzie admitted to advertising two different minors – ages 14 and 15 – online for prostitution and facilitating their exploitation primarily in Dorchester during a week-long period in July 2013. The details are sickening, painting a picture of callous disregard for the well-being of these young victims.

Both Pledger and Kizzie were indicted in February 2014, and their connection to the Thetford Avenue Buffalos gang is a key component of the case. Authorities haven’t released details on how the gang played a role in the trafficking operation, but it’s a safe bet this wasn’t an isolated incident. This highlights a disturbing pattern: gangs using human trafficking as a revenue stream, preying on the most vulnerable members of our society.

Under proposed binding plea agreements, Pledger is looking at a mandatory 120 to 204 months behind bars, followed by five years of supervised release. Kizzie faces 135 to 153 months in prison, also with five years of supervised release. Judge Young will ultimately determine the sentences within these ranges. Kizzie’s sentencing is scheduled for May 4, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., while Pledger will face the judge on May 28, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Don’t expect a slap on the wrist; these predators deserve to be locked up for a long time.

U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, along with a coalition of federal and state law enforcement agencies – including Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Police, Rhode Island State Police, and numerous local departments – announced the guilty pleas today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Harman Burkart and Timothy E. Moran of Ortiz’s Civil Rights Enforcement Team are prosecuting the case. Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact authorities at 617-748-3274. This investigation sends a clear message: we will not tolerate the exploitation of children in our communities. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and expose the dark underbelly of Boston’s criminal networks.