Randolph Man Indicted Following Human Trafficking Investigation With Tewksbury Ties

Ryan Duntin, 31, of Randolph, was indicted on two counts of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, two counts of conspiracy to traffic persons for sexual servitude, two counts of deriving support from prostitution and rape and failing to register as a sex offender.

The Attorney General’s office began an investigation in July after the matter was referred by the Tewksbury Police Department. 

According to authorities, Duntin recruited women into prostitution and forced at least one of them to provide sexual services for a fee in hotels in several Massachusetts communities, namely Tewksbury and Braintree.

Duntin allegedly posted or directed advertisements to be posted offering sexual services on websites known to advertise prostitution. 

Authorities allege Duntin transported the women in his vehicle, harbored them in hotels, monitored the money being earned, ultimately collected the proceeds and frequently used violence and threats of violence. 

Authorities also allege that Duntin raped one of the women and used threats and violence to do so.

Investigation revealed that Duntin frequently posted or directed the posting of advertisements on websites offering sexual services at locations in other states including Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. 

Evidence indicates that Duntin traveled up and down the East Coast, usually along the Route 95 corridor, and typically never spent more than one or two nights at a location.

Duntin allegedly failed to register as a sex offender by not providing the Sex Offender Registry Board with a secondary address. Authorities allege that Duntin traveled to other states and lived mostly in hotels, and did not disclose that to authorities.

Duntin was arrested on Sept. 23 on a warrant for a violation of probation by Warwick R.I. Police with assistance from Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Tewksbury Police Department. 

“We allege that this defendant recruited women into prostitution and forced at least one of them to engage in commercial sex, keeping the profits from this activity,” said Attorney General Martha Coakley in a statement.

“These charges remind us how crucial the human trafficking statute is so that we can now hold individuals accountable for this egregious behavior," Coakley said. "This investigation was a collaborative effort between federal, state and local authorities, and we thank the Tewksbury Police Department for their assistance in this case.”

“The Tewksbury Police Department recognizes the seriousness of these human trafficking crimes and is very appreciative of the collaboration that brought this matter to indictment,” said Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy Sheehan in the statement. 

“We would like to thank Attorney General Martha Coakley and her office for their work in protecting these innocent victims and for bringing the perpetrator of these heinous crimes to justice,” Sheehan said

Duntin is currently being held without bail pending a probation hearing on Oct. 18.

Duntin was indicted today by a statewide grand jury and is due to be arraigned in Middlesex and Norfolk Superior Courts on dates yet to be determined.

The investigation into this matter is ongoing.

These charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Deb Bercovitch, who handles human trafficking prosecutions within the Attorney General’s Enterprise and Major Crimes Division, with assistance from Investigator Bryan Freitas of the Attorney General's Financial Investigations Division. Victim Witness Advocate Nikki Antonucci of the Attorney General's Victim Services Division is also assisting in the case. The investigation was conducted by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office, investigators from the Attorney General's Computer Forensics Lab, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tewksbury Police Department. Warwick R.I. Police also assisted in this case.