Pawtucket Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Pawtucket Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Ricky Wallace, 33, of Pawtucket, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence on Monday to trafficking a 17-year-old woman from Massachusetts to Pawtucket for commercial sexual activity, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, along with Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston field office of the FBI; Pawtucket Police Chief Paul King; Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; United States Marshal Jamie A. Hainsworth; and Arlington, Mass., Police Chief Frederick Ryan.

Wallace admitted in court that in addition to trafficking the 17-year-old, he also brought a 20-year-old woman from the Boston area to Rhode Island where she was featured in photos posted on Backpage.com and was also offered for commercial sexual activity.

Wallace pleded guilty to one count each of conspiracy, sex trafficking of a child, transportation of a minor for sexual activity, and two counts of transportation of an individual for sexual activity.

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Wallace has been held in custody since his arrest on August 29, 2014 and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25.

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

The FBI, Pawtucket Police and Rhode Island State Police were assisted in the investigation of this matter by the United States Marshal Service and the Arlington, Mass., Police Department.