A Florida man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his involvement in a sex trafficking conspiracy and illegal firearm possession. Angelo Dominic Lombardo, 29, of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, received a 13-year prison sentence followed by five years of supervised release. He is also required to register as a sex offender. In January 2025, Lombardo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion, as well as one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
“This defendant preyed on vulnerable, lured them in with false promises, and then used violence and threats of violence to force them into sex trafficking for his own monetary gain. His calculated cruelty, including threatening a victim at gunpoint, is unconscionable,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Although today’s sentence cannot undo the harm he inflcited, we hope it sends a clear message to anyone who thinks they can come to Massachusetts to traffic and exploit vulnerable people: you will be found, you will be stopped, and you will be held accountable. Our office will continue to stand with victims, fight for their safety, and bring traffickers to justice.”
Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division stated: “Angelo Lombardo felt entitled to treat women not as people, but as property to be sold for sex. Today’s sentence ensures he’ll stay locked up, unable to harm anyone else for decades to come. Profiting from the sexual exploitation of another human being is reprehensible. The FBI and our partners will do everything in our power to protect trafficking victims from further harm and see the predators who so viciously and violently abuse them brought to justice for their deplorable conduct.”
According to court documents and statements made during sentencing proceedings between June 2020 and July 12, 2021 Lombardo conspired with others to traffic four victims across several states including Massachusetts by using physical assaults, psychological coercion such as false promises about better lives or financial stability; making explicit threats—including at gunpoint—and confiscating personal identification documents.
One victim was recruited in Florida in June 2020 under the pretense she would have an improved life but was forced into commercial sex work with all earnings surrendered directly to Lombardo while enduring violence that left her feeling unable leave him without resources.
Another woman recruited around October 2020 traveled with Lombardo through various states where she faced repeated threats regarding her family’s safety if she did not comply; after resisting further participation she had her license taken away before being physically assaulted.
In May 2021 Lombardo approached a homeless individual in Portland Oregon offering shelter only later advertising her on commercial sex websites; he managed appointments—including two trips specifically for this purpose—to Boston where verbal abuse escalated into holding her at gunpoint demanding more money.
A fourth victim—recruited shortly after turning eighteen also from Portland—was promised financial security but instead experienced isolation from loved ones alongside ongoing verbal mistreatment while all proceeds were retained by Lombardo himself.
The investigation began when one victim reported Lombardo’s activities leading authorities arresting him following a traffic stop on July 12th 2021; $3,310 was seized at that time along with subsequent recovery from an associated hotel room—a firearm equipped with laser sight matching descriptions given by multiple victims plus loaded magazine containing twenty rounds—all discovered despite his status prohibiting any firearms or ammunition due prior felony conviction.
Members of the public who believe they may have been affected are encouraged contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov or visit https://polarisproject.org/ for additional information on support resources available related commercial sex trafficking cases.
U.S. Attorney Foley announced the outcome alongside FBI SAC Docks and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox acknowledging assistance provided throughout investigation by Massachusetts State Police Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Revere Arlington Police Departments prosecution led Assistant U.S Attorneys J Mackenzie Duane Elizabeth Riley-Cunniffe Human Trafficking Civil Rights Unit Chief.
