A Maryland man pleaded guilty on July 23 in federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts, to charges of inducing three individuals, including two minors, to travel across state lines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution.
David Kaufman, 45, admitted guilt to a superseding information charging three counts of knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution and aiding and abetting. He also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to do the same. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Nov. 13. Kaufman was arrested in April 2025 after a federal grand jury charged him with additional offenses along with a co-conspirator.
According to court documents, between January and July 2024 Kaufman arranged for victims—including two minors—to travel from Massachusetts or Connecticut to Maryland or Massachusetts for commercial sex acts. Prosecutors said Kaufman paid for the victims’ travel expenses and exchanged money or things of value for sex acts performed at his residence or other locations. In several instances involving minor victims aged 16 and 17 years old, prosecutors allege that the minors were instructed by a co-conspirator to misrepresent their ages as being over eighteen.
The charge of knowingly persuading and inducing a person to travel for purposes of prostitution carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years supervised release and a fine up to $250,000; conspiracy charges carry penalties up to five years imprisonment. Sentences are determined by federal district court judges based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division, announced the plea agreement. The investigation received assistance from multiple agencies including the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland; FBI Baltimore Field Office; and Baltimore Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts enforces federal laws through prosecutions related to both criminal matters such as national security threats as well as civil rights violations; advances community initiatives on civil rights protection; employs over 200 attorneys and staff; maintains facilities at key courthouses across Boston, Springfield, Worcester; serves all residents statewide; is part of United States Department of Justice structure according to its official website.
Prosecutors reminded that details contained within charging documents are allegations only: “The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”