Worcester Couple Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking

BOSTON - A husband and wife from Worcester have been sentenced for sex trafficking a victim in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Kiersten Soto, 32, and Moises Soto, 33, were sentenced on Jan. 23, 2026 by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 18 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The defendants were also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and pay mandatory restitution to the victim in the amount of $138,000. In September 2025, the defendants were convicted of one count each of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion. Kiersten Soto was also convicted of one count of traveling or using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activities. The defendants were arrested and charged in December 2022.

From February through May 2022, the Sotos used force, fraud and coercion to traffic the victim for commercial sex in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island. A website was used to advertise the victim to sex buyers from all over New England. Kiersten Soto regularly threatened the victim with violence, abandonment and involuntary commitment to a facility. Moises Soto used extreme physical violence including beatings, assaults with wooden dowel rods and choking if the victim failed to make enough money. Videos from the defendants' cell phones show the defendants cornering the victim in their home, threatening her, berating her, calling her a snitch, all while the victim suffered through agonizing drug withdrawals.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Marlborough and Worcester Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Torey B. Cummings of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.