Boston's tough stance against labor trafficking was made crystal clear with the sentencing of Fernando Roland, a New Bedford man, to five years in prison for forcing two women into labor. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell's office heralded its first conviction under the labor trafficking laws with this case, marking a significant milestone in Massachusetts' fight against this heinous crime.
As reported by the Attorney General's Office, Roland, 66, was found guilty of 11 counts of Trafficking of Persons for Forced Services. He was also slapped with an additional year, served concurrently, in the house of correction for an Assault and Battery charge. His conviction on December 11 traces back to offenses between 2016 and 2018, where he was found to have exploited two women, threatening them over their immigration status and confiscating one of their passports.
"With today’s sentence, we are making it clear that we will prioritize labor trafficking cases and hold accountable those who force someone to work," AG Campbell stated, expressing gratitude towards the victims whose courage in coming forward played a crucial role in securing the conviction. According to a statement by the Attorney General's office, Roland's manipulation went as far as introducing the women to a man he claimed was an immigration attorney, deceiving them of $5,000 each for bogus legal services.
The Attorney General's Human Trafficking Division, responsible for the prosecution, is dedicated to tackling both sex and labor trafficking cases across the state. Julie Dahlstrom, Director of Immigrants’ Rights and Human Trafficking Program at Boston University School of Law, remarked on the significance of the conviction. "Labor trafficking is often an unseen crime with survivors afraid to step forward—due to fear of deportation, arrest, or reprisals. This conviction sends a clear message that those responsible for labor trafficking will be held accountable and that survivors will be believed when they step forward to share their experiences," she said in a statement obtained by the Attorney General's office.
With this victory, the AG's Office has now charged more than 80 individuals with trafficking or related offenses since the current law was enacted. Victims of labor violations and trafficking can reach out for help through the Office's Fair Labor Hotline or find resources on the Attorney General’s Workplace Rights website. The team behind this case's success comprises specialized prosecutors, victim advocates, and Massachusetts State Police Troopers working in the Human Trafficking Division, along with the Fair Labor Division.
