Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced a chilling case of child exploitation with the indictment of MATTHEW HALSTEAD, 31, on numerous charges, including Sex Trafficking of a Child. According to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the indictment includes a staggering 104 counts, laying out allegations of repeated sexual assault and trafficking of a 16-year-old boy over approximately five months, from March to August 2024.
In the indictment, ran away from Child Protective Services, the 16-year-old victim reportedly stayed with HALSTEAD in his apartment in Washington Heights, where the defendant engaged in various explicitly criminal activities. Bringing to light the harrowing details, District Attorney Bragg said, “These allegations are horrifying, and I thank my Office’s Human Trafficking Unit and our partners at the NYPD for thoroughly investigating and unraveling this alleged sex trafficking operation,” as noted by the District Attorney's Office press release.
According to the statements made in the documents of the court, HALSTEAD exploited the boy by taking photos and videos of him in sexual acts with others and himself. These images were then harrowingly used to draw in men willing to pay for sexual encounters with the minor. HALSTEAD didn't stop at social media exposure, using platforms such as X and the messaging app Telegram to connect with others interested in child exploitation, including discussions about "trading" access to children.
After a call that seemed to involve a roommate conflict, the investigation catapulted into action. The indictment's execution is thanks to the collaborative effort of NYPD's Manhattan Special Victims Squad and the D.A.’s Human Trafficking Unit, which remains ongoing. Assistant D.A.s Katherine Sullivan and Megan Mers are leading the prosecution, under the supervision of higher authorities in their department, according to the same press release.
D.A. Bragg praised the NYPD for their efforts in addressing a serious issue, highlighting the work of the Manhattan Special Victims Squad, Detective Julio Jimenez, and the staff at the 34th Precinct.
