For Immediate Release
Contact: Tim Connolly 508-368-7236
Or 508-688-5565
WORCESTER – A Southbridge man was arraigned Friday in Worcester Central District Court on human trafficking charges, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
Robert L Nieves, 22, of Southbridge pleaded not guilty to six counts of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude and six counts of deriving support from a prostitute. Judge Janet J. McGuiggan revoked his bail on an open case in Worcester Superior Court and set $25,000 bail on the new charges. His case was continued to July 19.
Nieves was the third suspect arraigned last week Worcester Central District Court on similar charges. Jovani Delossantos, 23, of Leominster, and Victoria Power, 20, of Worcester, were arraigned on July 5. They had been arrested over the Fourth of July weekend.
Nieves was arrested on July 7. All three arrests are part of an investigation into the activities of the Kilby Street Gang by the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, Worcester Police Gang Unit and Worcester Police Detective Bureau. The investigation alleges that six females were provided drugs. They were housed at various locations where they provided sex for customers. The operation used ads on the websites Craigslist and Backpage.