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Press Release

Second Defendant Detained For Allegedly Transporting Boston Area 17-year-old To R.I. For Sex Trafficking

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Rhode Island





PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Ricky Wallace, a/k/a Justice, 33, of Pawtucket, was ordered detained on sex trafficking charges today by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan, for allegedly trafficking a 17-year-old girl from the Boston area to Rhode Island for the purposes of commercial sexual activity, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston field office of the FBI; Pawtucket Police Chief Paul King; Colonel Steven G. O’DonnellSuperintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; and United States Marshal Jamie A. Hainsworth.

According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint and arrest warrant filed with the court, the victim was allegedly taken against her will from South Station in Boston in the early morning hours of August 18, 2014, and driven to Rhode Island for the purposes of being trafficked for commercial sexual activity. According to the victim, she was driven to the same Pawtucket residence where she was located on August 25, 2014, and rescued by FBI agents, Pawtucket Police and Central Falls Police.

According to the affidavit, Wallace allegedly recruited the 17-year-old woman and, on a separate date, another person, to travel to Rhode Island where they allegedly were to be trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual activity. Wallace was arrested on August 29, 2014, on a bench warrant issued from the Providence Superior Court. He is detained at the ACI.

On August 26, 2014, Kemont Bowie, a/k/a Daddy, 34, of Providence, was arrested and ordered detained in federal custody in this matter.  According to court documents, it is alleged that on two occasions Bowie drove to Boston and picked up the alleged victims and brought them to Rhode Island for the purposes of sex trafficking.

Wallace and Bowie are charged in federal criminal complaints with one count each of sex trafficking of a child and transportation of a minor.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being prosecuted in federal court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela E. Chin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in conjunction with the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General in the prosecution of this matter

The FBI, Pawtucket Police and Rhode Island State Police are being assisted in the investigation of this matter by the United States Marshal Service.

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Contact: 401-709-5357
USARI.Media@usdoj.gov

Updated June 22, 2015