WOBURN – A Worcester man facing charges of human trafficking and kidnapping has been held without bail following a dangerousness hearing, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced today, August 21.
The AG’s Office alleges the defendant trafficked a victim for sex at Encore Casino in Everett and at the Verve Hotel in Natick and kidnapped another victim in an attempt to traffick her for sex as well.
On July 14, a Middlesex County Grand Jury indicted Ronald Hall, 46, of Worcester, on charges of Trafficking for Sexual Servitude (2 counts), Kidnapping, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (2 counts), Deriving Support from Prostitution, as well as a being a Habitual Criminal. Hall was arraigned on the charges in Middlesex Superior Court on July 31 and held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing.
After a dangerousness hearing on Thursday, Judge Judge Kathleen McCarthy ordered Hall held without bail. Hall is due back in Middlesex Superior Court on Sept. 8 for a scheduling conference.
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The charges against Hall are the result of an investigation led by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Human Trafficking Division and the AG’s Gaming Enforcement Division along with MSP’s High-Risk Victim Unit. During the investigation, authorities developed evidence indicating that Hall trafficked a victim for sex at Encore Casino in Everett and at a hotel in Natick.
Hall facilitated sexual encounters between the victim and sex buyers and received the majority of the money as a result. The AG’s Office also alleges that Hall kidnapped another victim, attempted to traffick her for sex, and physically assaulted her. The victim later escaped and was intercepted by authorities.
These charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
AG Healey has a dedicated Human Trafficking Division that focuses on policy, prevention and prosecution and includes a team of specialized prosecutors, victim advocates and Massachusetts State Police Troopers who handle high impact, multi-jurisdictional human trafficking investigations and prosecutions across the state.
Through the Human Trafficking Division, the AG’s Office has charged more than 60 individuals in connection with human trafficking since the state’s anti-trafficking laws went into effect in 2012.
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This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Division Chief Jennifer Snook and Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bourgeois, both of the AG’s Human Trafficking Division, with assistance from Chief of the AG’s Victim Services Division Nikki Antonucci, Financial Investigator Jill Petruzziello and Digital Evidence Analyst Brenna Casey of the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab.
The investigation was handled by the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Human Trafficking Division and the AG’s Gaming Enforcement Division, along with MSP’s High-Risk Victim Unit, and Homeland Security Investigations.
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Above is a press release from the Attorney General’s office
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