Worcester married couple convicted of sex trafficking, conspiracy

A Worcester married couple was convicted of sex trafficking Monday after a six-day jury trial, federal prosecutors said.

Kiersten Soto, 32, and Moises Soto, 33, were each found guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, with the counts relating to the interfamilial trafficking of a younger relative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said in a statement Wednesday.

Kiersten Soto was also found guilty on one count of traveling or using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activities.

The husband and wife were first arrested and indicted in December 2022. Evidence presented at their trial revealed that between February and May 2022, the Sotos used a website to advertise the victim to sex buyers and trafficked her in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Kiersten Soto regularly threatened the victim with violence, abandonment and involuntary commitment to a facility, while Moises Soto beat the victim, assaulted her with wooden dowel rods, and choked her if she failed to make enough money, federal prosecutors said. Videos from the couple’s cell phones show them “cornering the victim in their home, threatening her, berating her, calling her a snitch, all while the victim suffered through agonizing drug withdrawals.”

“Kiersten and Moises Soto built their so-called livelihood off of brutality and control,” U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said in the statement. “The Sotos compounded their cruelty by recording the abuse — immortalizing the victim’s trauma for their own depraved purposes.”

The couple will face at least 15 years in prison and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory restitution to the victim for the sex trafficking charge, according to federal prosecutors. They will also face up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory restitution to the victim for the conspiracy charge.

For the additional charge against her, Kiersten Soto could face up to five years in prison, a maximum of three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, according to federal prosecutors. The Sotos are scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 19, 2025.