Michael Sabatino, Sex Trafficking a Child, Rhode Island 2015

A Warwick man has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for trafficking a 16-year-old female in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for the purpose of prostitution.

Michael Sabatino, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on Friday. In addition to his prison term, Sabatino was also ordered to serve 5 years supervised release upon completion of his sentence.

Sabatino pleaded guilty on September 30, 2016, to conspiracy to sex traffic a child and sex trafficking a child. His sentencing comes nearly a year and a half after he admitted to the court that from August 20, 2015, to September 27, 2015, he recruited, enticed, transported, harbored, and advertised a minor victim for the purpose of prostitution.

According to information presented to the court, an investigation by Pawtucket Police detectives and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents determined that on August 20, 2015, Sabatino posted photographs of the victim, a 16-year-old female, in various stages of undress on Backpage.com, offering her for prostitution. The pictures were taken by Paris Peters, 26, who was also involved in the sex trafficking ring.

Over the next several weeks, as numerous individuals responded to the Backpage.com advertisement, the victim was driven by Sabatino, Peters, and Marcus Jamal Gibbs, 30, to various hotels and private residences in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to engage in commercial sexual activity. The victim was eventually located at a family member’s home on September 28, 2015, after HSI agents were notified by Pawtucket Police of a report of a missing and endangered 16-year-old female who was being prostituted throughout Rhode Island and in Massachusetts.

The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of imprisonment in the matter of Michael Sabatino is 108-121 months. The government recommended the court impose a sentence of 97 months in prison, but Chief Judge William E. Smith ultimately sentenced Sabatino to 84 months.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly. The sentencing is announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh.

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