NH Man Convicted Of Running Drug-Fueled Prostitution Ring

CONCORD, NH — A Manchester man has been found guilty of forcing young women into prostitution by exploiting their heroin addictions in a New Hampshire human-trafficking operation. Steven Tucker, 33, was convicted in U.S. District Court in Concord Friday of using interstate facilities to promote prostitution and maintaining a drug-involved premise after a three-day trial.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said between October 2013 and June 2014, evidence presented showed Tucker sold heroin to numerous individuals, including young women and a minor. Witnesses testified that he would then prostitute the women, take half of the money they made and force them to buy additional heroin from him with the other half. Witnesses also testified he would withhold heroin from the women — causing them to suffer painful withdrawal symptoms— then force them into prostitution to earn money to purchase heroin from him to ease their withdrawals.

"Motivated by greed, the defendant preyed on young, vulnerable women, selling them heroin, exploiting their addictions, and prostituting them for his own profit," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband in a statement. "The Civil Rights Division and its Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit will continue its vigorous efforts to work with our federal and state partners to hold human traffickers accountable, vindicate the rights of their victims, and eradicate this despicable and inhumane exploitation from our country."

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Tucker used violence and threats to maintain control of the women. The investigation began in 2014, when the mother of one of the women called the Manchester Police Department after the defendant assaulted her daughter.

"We’re grateful that the jury has brought back this verdict," said Peter Fitzhugh, special agent with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations-Boston, in a statement. "This case, where the offender cruelly exploited his victims through drug addiction and violence to induce them to prostitute, was disturbing on several levels."