PROVIDENCE, RI – Two Rhode Island men are facing serious federal charges after a grand jury indicted them Tuesday for allegedly running a sex trafficking operation targeting a minor. Reysean Williams, a/k/a “Sincere,” 27, of Pawtucket, and Leandro Gomes, a/k/a “Leo,” 18, of Providence, are accused of exploiting a 17-year-old Rhode Island female and transporting an 18-year-old for commercial sexual activity.
The four-count indictment details a disturbing scheme where Williams and Gomes allegedly used hotels in Warwick, R.I., Queens, N.Y., and locations throughout Massachusetts as venues for their exploitation. From March 21 to 23, 2017, Williams allegedly rented a Warwick hotel room specifically for the purpose of facilitating commercial sex acts with the juvenile victim. During that period, the pair reportedly advertised the victim’s services on Backpage.com.
The indictment further alleges that on March 25, 2017, Williams and Gomes transported both the 17-year-old and an 18-year-old woman to a hotel in Queens, New York, with the intent of continuing the illicit operation. They again allegedly used Backpage.com to solicit clients. According to the indictment, Gomes collected all payments from the victims, handing the majority over to Williams. The pair also traveled to New York with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity with a person under the age of 18.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Cranston Police Department’s Special Victims Unit, led to the victim being located on April 17, 2017. Investigators say the case began with leads developed by the Cranston PD, which quickly expanded with the assistance of HSI. The ongoing investigation suggests further details of the trafficking operation may yet come to light.
Both Williams and Gomes were arrested and arraigned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Providence. U.S. District Court Magistrate Lincoln D. Almond ordered both defendants to be detained pending further proceedings. They are charged with conspiracy to sex traffic a child, sex trafficking of a child, interstate transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, and traveling in interstate with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
If convicted, Williams and Gomes face a grim prospect: 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release. Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch announced the indictment alongside Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of HSI New England, and Cranston Police Chief Colonel Michael J. Winquist. Dambruch also extended gratitude to the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General for their support during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly is prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking|Sex Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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