Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Fritz
Blanchard, 28, of Boston, Massachusetts, was found guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court of
aiding and abetting the interstate transportation of women for prostitution following a four-day
jury trial in Portland.
According to the indictment and trial evidence, on March 27, 2013, Blanchard and
Samuel Gravely caused a Presque Isle woman and a Portland woman to engage in prostitution at
a Portland hotel, advertising their services on backpage.com. The next day, Blanchard and
Gravely drove the two women, and another Portland woman, from Portland to Boston intending
that the three work as prostitutes there. When they arrived in Boston, Blanchard took two of the
women to a downtown street and told them how to attract customers and engage in prostitution.
Blanchard faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after
completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. On Nov. 20,
2013, Gravely pled guilty to interstate transportation of women for prostitution. He awaits
sentencing.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland
Security Investigations, with assistance from the Boston Police Department; the Federal Bureau
of Investigation; the Portland, Presque Isle, Old Town, Brunswick and Saco Police Departments;
the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
