An assistant admissions director at Emmanuel College in Boston is facing legal charges for allegedly soliciting an underage applicant for sexual activities, as reported by prosecutors on Friday.
Jacob Henriques, 29, of Boston, was arrested Friday evening and charged with attempted sex trafficking of a minor.
Henriques is accused of using his admissions role to access personal details of current or potential students, according to a statement from Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley’s office.
On April 25, Henriques allegedly initiated contact with at least three such students, proposing to pay them for sexual encounters and, in some instances, sending them explicit videos and images, prosecutors said. Additionally, a fourth student, after committing to the college, reportedly received similar propositions.
In one instance, Henriques allegedly attempted to traffic a 17-year-old girl after giving her a tour of the college. Federal prosecutors said he asked the student what local high school she attended and reviewed her registration form, which contained her date of birth.
Hours after the tour ended, Henriques allegedly began texting her, offering her $400 for “some fun” and saying that he had explicit images for her.
Prosecutors said Henriques refused to disclose his identity to the victim or reveal how he obtained her number.
“Henriques then allegedly sent the minor victim five pornographic videos depicting men and women engaged in sex acts” and asked whether or not she wanted to have sex with him, the release stated.
Henriques accessed the minor’s profile 47 times between April 25 and April 28, authorities said. After she blocked his phone number, he allegedly started soliciting her via email.
Emmanuel College confirmed Henriques was an employee and has been terminated.
“Emmanuel College is saddened, angered, and shocked by these serious federal allegations that have been brought against a former employee,” the Catholic college said in a statement. “They are an affront to our core values, and we stand with anyone victimized by this incident.”
The college, located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, said once it was made aware of the incidents, law enforcement was immediately contacted and an investigation was launched. The FBI’s Boston Division is still seeking to identify any other potential victims.
Henriques is set to appear in U.S. district court in Boston on Monday. It is not immediately clear if he has retained a lawyer.
If convicted, Henriques could face up to life in prison. The minimum sentence for attempted sex trafficking of a minor is 10 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and up to $250,000 in fines.
