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Prostitution, Pimping, and Soliciting

Engaging in sexual conduct for a fee is a crime prohibited by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272 Section 53A. The law defines “engaging in sexual conduct for a fee” as either: (1) engaging; (2) agreeing to engage; or (3) offering to engage in sexual conduct with another person for a fee. It does not matter whether any sexual conduct actually occurs, as long as there is an agreement or offer to engage in the sexual conduct.

This section also makes the acts of prostitutes’ payors criminal offenses. It proscribes (1) paying; (2) agree to pay; or (3) offering to pay another person to engage in sexual conduct. Again, whether any sexual conduct actually occurs is irrelevant.

If you are convicted of engaging in sexual conduct for a fee, whether you are the payee or payor, you face imprisonment in the house of correction for up to one year or a fine of up to $500, or both.

Procuring a person to practice or enter a place for prostitution is a criminal offense under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272 Section 12.

To convict a person of this offense, the prosecutor has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant:

  1. Either:
    1. Procured;
    2. Enticed;
    3. Sent; or
    4. Aided or abetted in
      1. Procuring
      2. Enticing; or
      3. Sending

a person to practice prostitution or enter any place that is for prostitution. This prohibition against sending a person to a place for prostitution covers owners of employment agencies and their agents or employees.

If you are convicted of this offense, you face a fine ranging from $100-$500 or a prison sentence ranging from three months to two years.

Deriving financial support from prostitution is proscribed by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272 Section 7.

To convict a person of this offense, the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that:

1. The defendant derived support from, even partly, or shared in earnings, proceeds or monies that came from another’s prostitution; and 2. The defendant knew that that person was a prostitute.

This law is directed against those persons commonly referred to as “pimps” or “purveyors.” Merely driving a prostitute to a location and returning to pick the prostitute up in exchange for gas money is not enough to constitute this offense.

If you are convicted of this offense, there is a minimum five-year state prison sentence and a $5,000 fine. This sentence cannot be reduced to less than two years, and you will not be eligible for probation or parole until you serve two years of the sentence.

What Constitutes Soliciting a Prostitute in Massachusetts?

Soliciting for a prostitute is a crime under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272 Section 8. The law prohibits (1) soliciting a prostitute; and (2) receiving compensation for soliciting a prostitute.

Penalties for Soliciting a Prostitute

If you are convicted of soliciting for a prostitute, you face imprisonment in the house of correction for up to one year or a fine of up to $500, or both. Attorney Stephen Neyman has had extensive experience successfully defending these and other criminal charges. If you have been charged, call our office at 617-263-6800 or contact us online today.

Case Results » Prostitution, Pimping, and Soliciting
  • Charges of Sex For a Fee Against Uber Driver Dismissed on Court Costs

    In June of this year our client, an Uber driver, went online and made arrangements to have sex with a woman claiming to be a prostitute. The two met up in an apartment building. Our client entered a designated room and negotiated a sexual arrangement for a specified amount of money. Unbeknownst to our client, the woman was an undercover police officer. Once the negotiations terminated the officer disclosed her true identity. Our  client was summonsed for a charge of sex for a fee in violation of G.L. c. 272 section 53A. Attorney Neyman was hired. Today, all charges were dismissed on court costs. 

    Read More in Prostitution

  • Charges of Solicitation of a Prostitute Do Not Issue After Clerk Magistrate Hearing

    Several weeks ago an urban police task force formulated a sting operation targeting people soliciting prostitutes. Two undercover police officers from different departments posed as prostitutes working the streets in a neighborhood known for high volume of prostitutes and people soliciting sex for a fee. Our client was driving through that neighborhood around 1:00 in the morning. He requested oral sex offering twenty dollars for such services. The undercover directed him around a corner where he was met by several police officers. He was identified and summonsed for a clerk magistrate hearing charging him with sex for a fee in violation of G.L. c. 272 section 8. We represented him and convinced the magistrate not to issue the complaint. 

    Read More in Sex Offenses

  • Petition to Seal Charges of Sexual Conduct for a Fee Allowed

    Several years ago our client was caught in a sting operation where he was soliciting sexual services for a fee. That conduct is prohibited under G.L. c. 272 section 53. Attorney Neyman secured pretrial probation under G.L. c. 276 section 87 for the man. Fearing that the case would sometime resurface we were asked to seal the case. Today, a judge allowed our petition to seal under G.L. c. 276 section 100C

    Read More in Sealing Criminal Records

Client Reviews
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"We went to trial and won. He saved me fifteen years mandatory in state prison for this case." A.C. Boston, Massachusetts
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"I hired him and he got the case dismissed before I had to go into a courtroom. My school never found out and if they had I would have lost my academic scholarships. He really saved my college career." Melissa C. Cold Spring, New York, October 2013
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"My union rep told me to call Steve Neyman. From the get go I felt comfortable with him. He took the time to talk to me about my case whenever I needed .... He even gave me his personal cell number and took all my calls. We won the case and I kept my job." Bart L. S.
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"The best criminal defense lawyer in Massachusetts. Takes all of his client's calls at any time of the day or night. He was always there for me and my family. Steve saved my life." Jacquille D. Brockton, Massachusetts
★★★★★
"In less than two months Stephen Neyman got my old conviction vacated. I now have no criminal record." Paul W. Boston, Massachusetts