MANCHESTER, NH – Two men were convicted in Hillsborough Superior Court North on separate human trafficking charges. The arrests were conducted by Manchester Police in conjunction with Homeland Security.
On August 11, 2016, Donald Kaplan, 53, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to incarceration for 5-10 years for two counts of trafficking in persons (New Hampshire RSA 633:7) and two counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, (New Hampshire RSA 318 –B:2).
During the course of the investigation it was found that the female victim was recruited by Kaplan for the purposes of prostitution. According to the victim Kaplan utilized a culture of fear, as well as drug addiction to control his victims. The victim reported physical violence to include rape, and mental abuse at the hands of Kaplan. Further, the victim alleged Kaplan supplied the victims with controlled substances, to include heroin. Kaplan would withhold drugs from his victims in order to make them “dope sick.” The victims would then “work” to support their drug addictions.
On August 19, 2016, Nathaniel Clarke, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in persons (New Hampshire RSA 633:7). Clarke is expected to be sentenced to incarceration for a period of 10-20 years in New Hampshire State Prison. Sentencing in this case is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 22 at 11 a.m. at the Hillsborough County Superior Court North in Manchester NH
During the course of the investigation, Clarke was found to have conspired with at least two other individuals, to engage in commercial sex trafficking in New Hampshire. Clarke used coercion by means of narcotics (heroin and crack cocaine) to sexually exploit at least four females, including one minor. Clarke used physical and sexual assaults to intimidate his victims in order to maintain control of their activities. The organization advertised the services of its victims on Backpage.com. Other individuals involved in this case remain incarcerated and under indictment for related activity.
