Vanessa Grandoit, Sex Trafficking, Massachusetts 2015

BOSTON – In a shocking display of human exploitation, two Boston women have been sentenced for their roles in a sex trafficking organization. The case highlights the darker side of human nature and the need for law enforcement to crack down on these types of crimes.

Vanessa Grandoit, 26, of Roxbury, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and five years of supervised release. Her accomplice, Kairis Sanchez, a/k/a “Lola,” of Dorchester and Portland, Maine, received an 18-month prison sentence and five years of supervised release. Both women pleaded guilty to one count each of transportation to engage in criminal sexual activity.

The duo provided logistical support to their accomplices, Raymond Jeffreys and Corey Norris, who were charged with trafficking and transporting nine victims across state lines for prostitution. Six of the victims were under the age of 18. Jeffreys and Norris were charged with the trafficking and transportation of the victims in 14 different states, including Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Nevada, Georgia, Florida, and California.

The investigation was a joint effort between Homeland Security Investigations, the Boston Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit, and the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also acknowledged the work of several other law enforcement agencies, including the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office.

The sex trafficking charges were investigated jointly by HSI, BPD, and the FBI. The witness tampering charges were investigated jointly by HSI and the Boston Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit and Homicide Unit.

The case serves as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance in combating human trafficking. As one law enforcement official noted, “Human trafficking is a heinous crime that affects communities across the country. We will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office commended the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Amy Harman Burkart and Christopher Pohl, as well as Special Assistant United States Attorney and Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney David S. Bradley, for their efforts in securing the convictions.

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