Massachusetts man charged with sex trafficking, armed robbery; allegedly forced victim to meet on social media

David Walker, 26, is facing a series of charges including sex trafficking and robbery, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Walker was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly coercing a woman, whom he initially met through social media, to travel across state lines to perform commercial sex acts and assisting in multiple convenience store robberies in Massachusetts. The indictment quickly escalated from Walker’s violent enforcement of prostitution quotas to his participation in the armed robberies of multiple 7-Eleven stores.

Walker allegedly engaged in behavior that prosecutors described as “appalling,” and is accused of both exploiting and terrorizing his victim. “He allegedly exploited this young woman in an unconscionable manner — forcing her into a life of fear and violence for his own criminal gain,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, who stressed the serious consequences of such crimes. Walker is also accused of physical and sexual abuse, including strangling, kicking, and using firearms and knives as methods of intimidation and control.

The victim’s story, detailed in the indictment, describes a harrowing series of events, including forced drug use and threats to her life and the safety of her family. Special Agent Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations in New England noted the case as a grim and all-too-common reality faced by trafficked people. The indictment alleges that Walker’s alleged tactics of manipulation and violence led the victim across state lines, from Massachusetts to Maine, for the sole purpose of commercial sexual exploitation.

In the armed robberies, the indictment alleges that the same victim was not only present, but also coerced into helping Walker. Before 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. If victims of commercial sex trafficking need assistance, the U.S. Attorney’s Office urges them to contact [email protected] for assistance.

Walker is currently awaiting trial, facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years for sex trafficking and other significant penalties for related charges if convicted. By shedding light on such crimes, law enforcement hopes 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 have involved collaboration between several departments, including the Middlesex District Attorney’s office and local police departments in Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, Everett, and Pepperell, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney’s office. As is always the case in the American justice system, despite the weight of the charges, the defendant remains innocent until proven guilty.