Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Curtis "Kellogg" Maxie (age 60), of Pawtucket, was sentenced today by Superior Court Justice Netti C. Vogel to 85 years to serve for trafficking and sexual assault, and an additional 15 years to serve as a habitual offender. In addition, Maxie is subject to lifetime sex offender registration and community notification.
Maxie was found guilty by a jury in April of three counts of first degree sexual assault, one count of sex trafficking of a minor, and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. The jury returned the verdict in less than two hours after a seven-day trial presided over by Justice Vogel.
During the course of the trial, the jurors heard testimony from the victim, who was 16 years of age at the time she was sexually assaulted and trafficked by Maxie in 2014. She testified that during the month of April 2014, after she had run away from her home, she went to Maxie's apartment in Pawtucket with co-conspirator Marquis Melia, who was 22 years of age at the time.
On the first day at Maxie's apartment, the victim and the two conspirators smoked marijuana and played video games. When Melia and the victim returned to the apartment the next day, Maxie later sexually assaulted the victim while Melia was out buying pre-paid debit cards. The victim testified that Maxie called her pet names and told her he needed to see if she was "GFE," meaning "Girlfriend Experience." Maxie then sexually assaulted the victim, telling her that he "needed to try her out to see if she could make him lots of money."
Jurors also heard from co-conspirator Marquis Melia, who is currently awaiting sentencing and has already pleaded nolo contendere to sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. Melia testified that he texted Maxie before he and the victim went to his apartment, telling Maxie he had a "fresh catch," meaning a new girl for Maxie to pimp out.
Melia further testified that he bought pre-paid debit cards for Maxie to use to place ads on Backpage.com for the victim as an escort. He acknowledged his role in the trafficking of the victim.
The Pawtucket Police Department received a tip that the victim was being trafficked through Backpage.com. Pawtucket Police went to Maxie's apartment where they located the young girl.
"This case highlights the underground world of human trafficking and shows how men like Curtis Maxie lure their victims, primarily young girls, into a world of prostitution. I commend the police who helped save this young girl from her oppressor, as well as the continued presence of the prosecutors and victim's advocates who helped her face Maxie, tell her story, and put him away for a sentence he undisputedly deserves," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "In the past several years, law enforcement and society have come a long way in understanding that these young women who are forced into this world are truly victims, and we have dedicated the resources necessary to help victims recover from their horrific ordeal."
Pawtucket Police Detectives Chip Devine and Richard LaForest led the investigation and Special Assistant Attorneys General Kimberly Ahern, Sara Tindall-Woodman, and Timothy Healy prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.