Three Fall River Residents Among Six Charged in Massachusetts Sex Trafficking Ring

Three Fall River residents have been charged in connection with a Massachusetts-based commercial sex ring that trafficked a woman and two girls, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's Office.

Fall River residents Christy Parker, 26, Cory Primo, 42, and Avvani Jeffers, 22, along with South Carolina residents Alexander Smalls, 25, Tre'sean Reid, 21, and Tyreik Reid, 20, are charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release. Parker and Smalls — who are a couple — are accused of committing “truly chilling” crimes through the organization of a sex trafficking ring that Primo, Jeffers and the Reids — who are Smalls' brothers — helped facilitate.

In early 2023, Parker contacted a woman who claimed to be homeless and in need of a place to live, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. It is alleged that after moving in with the woman, she and Smalls forced her to quit her job and work as a prostitute for them under a “profit-sharing contract” that required her to “remain loyal, humble and focused.”

The couple began trafficking the woman in Massachusetts and Rhode Island — with the help of Primo and Jeffers — and in South Carolina — with the help of Smalls’ brothers — while keeping all the profits, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Parker is accused of using physical violence, threats of violence and other threats to maintain control over the woman.

In July 2023, Parker met a 16-year-old girl whom she quickly forced into prostitution, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. She is accused of using physical violence, threats of violence, alcohol, marijuana, starvation and sleep deprivation to maintain control over the girl.

Parker would sometimes beat the girl if she fell asleep because she wanted her to be ready to meet a client at a moment's notice, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Parker is also accused of withholding food from the girl for at least four days after she failed to collect the full amount of money a client demanded. Although she often beat and choked the girl to the point of injuring her, Parker never allowed her to receive medical attention, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

In August 2023, Parker began trafficking a 17-year-old girl who had run away from a foster home, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Parker is accused of physically assaulting the girl when she refused to work and keeping all the profits from her commercial sex work.

“It is difficult to conceive of behavior more heinous than that described in these charges. Sex trafficking is not a remote problem – it is happening right here in our neighborhoods and often goes unnoticed or unreported,” Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said in the statement.

The 16-year-old victim was forced to engage in commercial sex acts with more than 100 men, while the 17-year-old girl was trafficked by at least five clients a day, the Fall River Herald reported. The victims met clients in Fall River, Somerset and Boston, and much of the sex trafficking allegedly took place in a room at a Somerset hotel that denied the allegations when contacted by the newspaper.

Authorities discovered the sex trafficking ring in August 2023 after the 17-year-old victim contacted her social worker at the group home and explained what was happening, the Fall River Herald reported. The social worker called 911 and police went to the Somerset Hotel and quickly discovered the three victims.

All of the defendants are in custody in Massachusetts or South Carolina, except for Tre'sean Reid, who is a fugitive, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. They face up to life in prison, lifetime supervised release and fines of up to $250,000 if convicted on all counts.

If you or someone you know may be a victim of sex trafficking, please email [email protected].