A Boston college admissions employee was detained on Friday following accusations of offering $400 to a 17-year-old prospective student in exchange for sexual favors, according to federal authorities.
Federal officials claim that Jacob Henriques, 29, misused his role as an assistant admissions director at Emmanuel College to access the private details of at least four prospective students before reaching out to them.
Henriques reportedly met with a minimum of three such students on April 25. He allegedly followed up by proposing payment for sexual activities and providing explicit content to them, officials reported.
Henriques contacted a fourth victim after she formally committed to attending the school on April 25, the attorney’s office said. He allegedly offered to pay her for “some fun” before sending her pornographic videos.
Between April 25 and April 28, Henriques allegedly accessed the girl’s profile 47 times. After she blocked his number, Henriques started emailing her, federal officials said.
Henriques was charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor.
An Emmanuel College spokesperson told WBZ-TV that Henriques has since been fired after an internal investigation.
“[We are] saddened, angered, and shocked by these serious federal allegations that have been brought against a former employee,” the spokesperson said. “They are an affront to our core values, and we stand with any victimized by this incident.”
The FBI said it is seeking other potential victims who Henriques may have targeted between 2024 and 2025. (iStock)
Henriques is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on Monday. He faces up to life in prison if found guilty.
The FBI’s Boston Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is seeking to identify other potential victims of Henriques who he may have targeted between 2024 and 2025.
