A Worcester couple has received an 18-year prison sentence for sex trafficking a victim across four states in New England. Kiersten Soto, 32, and Moises Soto, 33, both faced charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, with Kiersten Soto receiving an additional charge for her role in promoting illegal activities.
On January 23, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman delivered the judgment that also includes five years of supervised release following their incarceration and a mandatory order that they pay the victim restitution totaling $138,000, apart from a $5,000 fine. The crimes took place from February through May 2022, during which the Sotos used a website to advertise the victim's services to clientele in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The couple had exercised control through an alarming combination of force, threats, and manipulation. Evidence presented at trial included chilling recordings from the defendants' cell phones that depicted the two cornering the victim in their home, engaging in verbal abuse and threats. These revelations painted a stark portrait of the harsh realities faced by the victim, who was also subjected to severe beatings and intimidation tactics if she fell short of the financial demands imposed by the Sotos.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the sentencing with Michael J. Krol, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, with special assistance from the Massachusetts State Police; and the Marlborough and Worcester Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Torey B. Cummings.
