5 Men In Worcester Charged With Human Trafficking, Child Sex Crimes

WORCESTER, MA — Five men were charged with human trafficking and other child sex crimes over the course of an investigation in Worcester.

Worcester Police Department's Special Crimes and Cyber Crimes Unit partnered with other agencies to conduct an undercover human trafficking operation to identify and arrest customers who sought out commercial sex services from minors.

Beginning Friday, Mar. 13, multiple agencies conducted the investigation. Over several days, five men arrived at a local hotel, police said.

The five suspects were then charged with Human Trafficking of a Child, Enticing a Child Under 16, and Sexual Activity for a Fee with a Child under 18, amongst other charges.

Police identified the men as James Jude Paullis Jr. of Hudson, Raphael Josue Mesadieu of Worcester, Lionel Michael Galibert of Bolton, Wilmer Villa of Methuen and Sudhir Seth of Shrewsbury.

"Because of the cooperative partnership between these agencies and the tireless efforts of investigators and prosecutors, successful investigations and prosecutions keep our communities safer," the police department wrote in a news release.

The operation was supported in part by a Human Trafficking Enforcement and Training Grant awarded to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security in November 2025, the police department said.

WPD did not share the location of where the incidents occurred.

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