High bail for Braintree man facing sex trafficking charges
BOSTON, January 14, 2025 – A Braintree man arraigned today in South Boston BMC on sex trafficking charges is being held on $50,000 bail, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
SACHARIS GATHERS, 20, of Braintree was charged with trafficking for sexual servitude, deriving support from prostitution, and possession with intent to distribute a class B substance.
Judge Margaret Albertson ordered Gathers held on $50,000 bail with GPS monitoring and home confinement if released. Gathers is due back in court on February 12 for a probable cause hearing.
On January 13, members of the Boston Police Human Trafficking and the Massachusetts State Police High-Risk Victims units conducted an investigation in the areas of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.
Investigators observed an online advertisement on “Skip the Games,” a platform linked to sex trafficking and exploitation, featuring a person known by them to be a victim of exploitation and violent assaults. Investigators made arrangements for a meetup using the phone number listed on the advertisement.
At about 8:18 p.m., detectives observed a car arrive with two occupants. The victim exited the car and entered the meetup location. At this time, detectives placed the driver, later identified as Gathers, into custody. Detectives recovered three plastic bags of crack cocaine from Gathers.
“Fighting sex trafficking crimes incorporates vigilance, surveillance, knowledge of the people involved and quick action, all of which were demonstrated by Boston and state police in this incident. It also involves agency and community outreach to help victims who may be vulnerable to exploitation,” Hayden said.
While the victims and witnesses of any crime should call 911 in an emergency, there are additional resources available to report suspected exploitation and sex trafficking. The National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-888-373-7888. Individuals impacted by exploitation and trafficking in Suffolk County can receive comprehensive services at the Eva Center, a survivor-led organization. The Eva Center can be reached at (617) 779-2133.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications