A Massachusetts man with a history of sex trafficking has been indicted once again, accused of forcing four women into sex work using thuggish tactics shortly after his release from prison, federal prosecutors said. Marvin Pompilus, 39, from Stoughton, faces a slew of charges including three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and one count involving attempted sex trafficking and drug distribution.
The indictment alleges that Pompilus preyed upon women battling substance abuse, supplied them with drugs to deepen their addiction, and then resorted to violence and intimidation to push them into prostitution, collecting the profits for himself, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts. Pompilus, already with a 2018 conviction for similar crimes, was slapped with charges in November 2023 and has been in federal custody awaiting his court appearance scheduled for next week.
Investigators describe a cycle of abuse and exploitation where Pompilus allegedly utilized physical and sexual violence, as well as emotional manipulation and threats, to control these women; it's a method he's accused of resuming almost immediately after his October 2021 prison release as he handpicked victims for his illicit operations, federal documents reveal. Pompilus had previously served six years for trafficking a person for sexual servitude and deriving support from prostitution.
As Pompilus now faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to possible life imprisonment and hefty fines, officials, including Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen, along with various local law enforcement agencies, have joined forces in the prosecution, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Riley, Arnold, and Tokash taking the lead on the case; meanwhile, the defendant maintains a presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, as the allegations in the charging documents await proper adjudication in federal court.
For those impacted by or knowledgeable of sex trafficking operations, authorities urge communication with the U.S. Attorney's Office at [email protected] for assistance. Pompilus's indictment serves as a stark reminder of the continued vigilance required to combat the coercive and damaging world of sex trafficking.
