Jacob Henriques: Arrest and Allegations of Attempted Sex Trafficking
Jacob Henriques, a 29-year-old from Boston, and former Assistant Director of Admissions at Emmanuel College, faces serious charges of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. The case has sparked concern and outrage, prompting investigations and raising questions about student safety. This article delves into the details of the allegations, the ensuing legal proceedings, and the response from Emmanuel College and law enforcement.
Arrest and Charges
Henriques was arrested on the evening of May 2, 2025, and charged with one count of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor. The charges stem from accusations that he used his position at Emmanuel College to access the personal information of prospective students and solicit them for commercial sex. He was due in Boston federal court on May 5, 2025.
Allegations of Predatory Behavior
According to the charging document, Henriques allegedly gained access to the personal information of admitted or prospective students and contacted them, offering to "pay them for some fun," provide them with pornography, and, in some instances, sending them pornographic videos or images.
Specifically, on April 25, 2025, Henriques met with multiple admitted or prospective students. After meeting with at least three such students, Henriques allegedly gained access to their personal information and began contacting them. It is alleged that Henriques began contacting a fourth victim after she formally committed to attend the college on April 25, 2025. He allegedly offered to pay her for “some fun” and began sending pornographic videos to her.
The most serious allegation involves a 17-year-old prospective student who toured the college on or about April 25, 2025. Henriques allegedly reviewed the victim’s tour registration form, which contained her date of birth, just before giving her a tour of the college. Within hours of finishing the tour, it is alleged that Henriques began texting the victim on her phone number provided on her admissions form. Henriques allegedly offered to pay the victim $400 for “some fun” right now and told her that he had pornographic videos and pictures for her. Henriques continued to contact the minor victim that night, refusing to tell her who he was or how he got her number. He allegedly told the victim that “porn” and “$” was ready for her. Henriques then allegedly sent the minor victim five pornographic videos depicting men and women engaged in sex acts and asked her whether or not she wanted to participate in a “gangbang” and whether or not she wanted to have sex with him. It is further alleged that despite the victim rejecting Henriques’s offer multiple times, Henrique continued to text her telling her to let him know if she changed her mind and that he would buy her anything she wanted. Between April 25, 2025 and April 28, 2025, it is alleged that Henriques accessed the minor’s profile 47 times.
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Further accusations have surfaced, alleging that Henriques contacted a 13-year-old Western Massachusetts girl via Instagram on April 20, asking if she was “down to have fun” and offering to “pay tonight.” It is unclear whether the 13-year-old was a prospective student. FBI agents learned about it on April 22.
Law Enforcement Response: Operation Restore Justice
Henriques's arrest was part of a larger nationwide operation called "Operation Restore Justice," a coordinated effort by the Department of Justice and the FBI to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. Over five days, from April 28 through May 2, more than 200 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested nationwide as part of the effort. These subjects include school leaders, registered sex offenders and members of law enforcement who are accused of various crimes including the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM); online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking.
"The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims - especially child victims - and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”
“Protecting children from exploitation is among the most sacred responsibilities we have in law enforcement. Each case serves as a difficult reminder that child predators are embedded in our communities. Some take on roles that increase their direct contact with children, while others prey on children from behind a keyboard. But make no mistake, we will identify, arrest, and hold every one of them accountable, no matter how long it takes or how far we have to go,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “As Child Abuse Prevention Month came to a close, Operation Restore Justice delivered a powerful and urgent message: protecting children is not just a worthy cause we recognize, it is a mission we carry out every day. We will not relent in our pursuit of those who exploit children, and we are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their tireless work to bring these predators to justice. This work will not stop.”
“There are few situations more urgent than when a child is physically at risk, and as ‘Operation Restore Justice’ has shown, child predators come in many different forms,” said James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “As horrific as these alleged crimes are, they are not rare. Make no mistake, FBI Boston's Child Exploitation - Human Trafficking Task Force is committed to finding these child sex abusers, locking them up, and ensuring those they have victimized are safe and well-supported.”
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In the District of Massachusetts, five individuals were arrested and charged during this Operation: Level 1 sex offender Justin Ouimette, 34, of Holyoke, is charged with possessing CSAM. Warren Messeck, 75, of Agawam, is charged with possessing CSAM. Brandon Bendall, 49, of Wareham, is charged with possessing and receiving CSAM. Cess Frazier, 32, of Boston, is charged with receiving CSAM.
Emmanuel College's Response
Upon learning of the accusations against Henriques, Emmanuel College terminated his employment. In a statement, the college expressed being "saddened, angered, and shocked by these serious federal allegations that have been brought against a former employee." The college has pledged full cooperation with authorities in the investigation.
Online search results show Emmanuel College listed Henriques as a “proud alum” of the school’s class of 2021 and that he reviewed college applications from local regions of Massachusetts. His full employee profile is no longer visible as of May 5.
Ongoing Investigation and Victim Outreach
The FBI’s Boston Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is actively working to identify potential victims of Jacob Henriques. The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law. The FBI is authorized to collect the information on this form by one or more of the following provisions: Title 28, United States Code, sections 533 and 534; Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, section 0.85; and the Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The information requested will assist the FBI in providing you with assistance to which crime victims are entitled under federal law.
Legal Proceedings
Henriques was held without bail until hearings scheduled on Wednesday. Attorney information for him wasn’t immediately available. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. If convicted, Henriques faces a potential sentence based on Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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Community Impact and Awareness
The Jacob Henriques case has sent shockwaves through the Emmanuel College community and the broader Boston area. Students have expressed feelings of nervousness and concern, but also pride in the prospective student who came forward.
The case also underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to protect children from online predators. The Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts’ robust Project Safe Childhood (PSC) program provides public education and outreach to communities on how to keep children safe online. To date, for the current 2024-2025 school year, the program has reached nearly 8,000 children, parents and school employees across 37 cities and towns. There is a Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force located in each field office, allowing the FBI to combine resources with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The program is a collaborative effort between the FBI and the NMCEC.
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