David Walker, 26, faces a slew of charges including sex trafficking and robbery, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Walker was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly coercing a woman, who he initially met via social media, into traveling across state lines to perform commercial sex acts and assist in multiple convenience store robberies in Massachusetts. Based on the indictment, the situation quickly escalated from Walker's violent enforcement of earning quotas in prostitution to participating in the armed robberies of several 7-Eleven stores.
Allegedly engaging in behavior that the prosecution describes as "horrifying," Walker stands accused of both exploiting and terrorizing his victim. "He is alleged to have callously exploited this young woman– forcing her into a life of fear and violence for his own criminal gain," Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy stated, stressing the severe consequences that await such crimes. Walker is also accused of physical and sexual abuse, which includes choking, kicking, and the use of firearms and knives as methods of intimidation and control.
The tale of the victim, detailed in the indictment, depicts a harrowing series of events including forced drug use and threats to her life and her family's safety. Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, noted the case as a grim and too-frequent reality faced by those who are trafficked. The indictment lays out that Walker's alleged tactics of manipulation and violence led the victim across state lines, from Massachusetts to Maine, with the sole purpose of commercial sex exploitation.
In the armed robbery incidents, the indictment alleges that the same victim was not just present but was forced to aid Walker. Prior to one of the robberies in West Roxbury, the victim was forced to drive him to obtain a semi-automatic handgun, underscoring the level of manipulation and coercion involved. When victims of commercial sex trafficking may need help, the U.S. Attorney's Office urges them to reach out to [email protected] for support.
Walker currently awaits trial, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years for sex trafficking and other significant penalties for the accompanying charges if convicted. By shedding light on such crimes, law enforcement officials hope to encourage the identification and protection of trafficking victims, as well as the prosecution of those who perpetuate these criminal activities. The efforts to prosecute this case involve collaboration among various departments, including the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and local police from Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, Everett, and Pepperell, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. As always in the U.S. justice system, despite the weight of allegations, the defendant remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
