A former Emmanuel College admissions director is headed to federal prison for 12 years after a Boston judge sentenced him Thursday for soliciting sex from an underage applicant and cyberstalking other students. The sentence, to be followed by five years of supervised release, has rattled families and college-watchers and renewed questions about how admissions offices guard the contact information and safety of prospective students.
How prosecutors say he targeted students
According to a U.S. Attorney's Office release, prosecutors say Jacob Tyler Henriques used campus tour registration forms and the college’s admissions portal to harvest students’ personal details. They say he then texted and emailed admitted and prospective students, dangling money and pornography. In one instance, according to federal authorities, Henriques offered a prospective student $400 for “some fun,” sent five pornographic videos, and repeatedly accessed the applicant’s portal profile dozens of times over several days. Investigators say he began contacting at least eight students after meeting or speaking with them during campus visits.
Guilty plea and sentence
Henriques pleaded guilty in November to one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor and one count of cyberstalking, and this week he received a 12 year prison term, followed by five years of supervised release, according to The Boston Globe. Prosecutors told the court the conduct showed a pattern of exploiting his admissions office access so he could prey on vulnerable applicants and admitted students.
College response and victim impact
Emmanuel College fired Henriques after his arrest. U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said he “victimized girls and young women online between the ages of 12 and 18 years old” and warned that “when applying to colleges, the last thing on an applicant’s mind should be their safety,” as reported by The Boston Globe. FBI officials labeled Henriques a “clear danger” and urged parents and schools to remind young people to be cautious about where and how they share personal information.
Legal context
Attempted sex trafficking of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and can run up to life in prison, while cyberstalking carries additional penalties, details prosecutors outlined in the U.S. Attorney's Office release. The sentencing, handled by the USAO’s Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit, underscores federal prosecutors’ focus on online exploitation and on the misuse of positions that grant access to minors’ personal information.
