3 indicted in separate human trafficking cases on Cape Cod

Three Cape Cod residents have been indicted by Barnstable County grand juries in separate human trafficking investigations conducted across the Cape, Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois’s office announced.

Luca Aguilar, 20, of Brewster, and Rina Althany Hernandez Alcantara, 38, of Sandwich, were indicted on Dec. 5, according to the DA’s office, while Ionut Stamatin, 24, of Falmouth, was indicted on Wednesday.

Galibois’s office said the cases stem from separate investigations in Yarmouth, Barnstable, and Falmouth, and reflect “the ongoing efforts to combat trafficking in our communities.”

Barnstable police began investigating Aguilar in April 2025 after being tipped off that a 15-year-old girl was being sexually exploited by a 20-year-old man in exchange for marijuana and vaping products. Investigators later identified Aguilar as the suspect and discovered that he allegedly engaged in sexual activity and solicited nude images from two other girls, aged 13 and 14.

Aguilar was indicted in Barnstable Superior Court on six charges, including trafficking of a person for sexual servitude, attempted rape of a child, posing or exhibiting a child in a sexual act, possession of child pornography, and dissemination of obscene material to a minor. He is scheduled to be arraigned at a later date.

According to the DA’s office, a separate case involving Hernandez Alcantara began on Sept. 11 when a Yarmouth patrol officer saw what appeared to be sexual activity happening in a vehicle parked at a local business parking lot. Police say a female passenger moved between two vehicles while adjusting her clothing.

Police later stopped the car and arrested the driver, later identified as Hernandez Alcantara. She was indicted on a charge of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude and due to be arraigned in Barnstable Superior Court at a later date.

In the third case, Massachusetts State Police conducted a human trafficking sting in Falmouth on Oct. 1. Authorities say that Stamatin believed he was arranging to engage in paid sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. Investigators say the man who arrived at the designated location was later identified as Stamatin.

After his arrest, police said a confirmation message related to the alleged arrangement appeared on Stamatin’s phone. Investigators said they recovered $170 in cash and 10 condoms at the time of his arrest.

Stamatin was indicted on charges including enticement of a child under 16, attempted rape of a child, enticement to engage in prostitution or commercial sexual activity, and paying for sexual conduct with a child under 18. He will be arraigned at a later date.

Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.