Natashia Bowman: Woman gets 3 years PROBATION for helping run sex trafficking ring, abusing victims
Warning: This article contains information about abuse that some people may find traumatic. Discretion is advised.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: A 35-year-old woman was sentenced on September 15, 2022, in federal court in Boston, Massachusetts, for her involvement in coercing young women to engage in prostitution. The US Attorney's Office charged the woman under the threat of violence and for getting involved in the Brockton-based organization. The woman was accused of physically abusing her young female trafficked victims and sending them to other states like New York, Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
Natashia Bowman, a resident of Dorchester, was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution to victims along with co-conspirator Matthew “Magic” Engram of Brockton, said the US District Court Judge Alison D Burroughs. The officials stated that back in 2020, Bowman pleaded guilty to the conspiracy of interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise that focused on the prostitution business. The US Attorney of Massachusetts’ Office reveals that from January 2009 until August 2015, Bowman helped Engram in the recruitment, trafficking, and organizing of multiple victims from a residence in Brockton and elsewhere to set up commercial sex acts and was actively involved in the financial aspect of the sex traffic ring as well. She was also involved in the physical abuse of these victims.
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Bowman and Engram's prostitution ring
Bowman and Engram would lure the young female victims by promising them good earnings, similar to the case of Ysenni Gomez who offered service jobs to her victims as a false pretext. It was not made clear if the pair offered jobs or some other means. Once the young victims were trapped in their false promises, they would advertise the victims on different websites.'
Bowman and Engram set up several text chains over the years where they would talk about advertisements, organize dates for various clients to avoid clashes and reserve hotel rooms. If the victims would not comply, Engram would use intimidation to induce fear and would not hesitate to physically abuse the victims.
Bowman would also abuse the victims if they did not comply or made enough compliance with Engram's orders. Over the years, their business expanded to other districts like Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Vermont.
Court documents also revealed that the mastermind behind this long-time prostitution ring even bought one of her victims from someone and forced her into this line of business with enough physical intimidation. Engram was sentenced to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release by Judge Burroughs on May 19, 2022. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, two counts of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise.