2 indicted on child prostitution charges

A Chelsea woman and her uncle have been charged with plotting to operate a child prostitution ring that sent teenagers as young as 13 to customers from Roxbury to New York.

Victor Diaz , 22 , of East Boston, who allegedly drove girls to prostitution calls, pleaded not guilty yesterday in US District Court in Boston to conspiring to run a child prostitution business between April 2004 and April 2005.

His niece, Evelyn Diaz, also 22, is scheduled to be arraigned Friday on charges of sex trafficking of children, transporting minors from Boston to New York for prostitution, and conspiracy.

The federal indictment unsealed July 7 says Evelyn Diaz ran an escort service, Messiah's Adult Entertainment, and placed advertisements on websites, including craigslist, and in the Boston Phoenix and Extreme Magazine.

US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan said Boston Police, the FBI, and State Police worked together to bring the federal charges. US Magistrate Judge Leo T. Sorokin agreed to release Victor Diaz on bail if his brother, who owns a home, signs a $50,000 bond.

The average age of prostitutes in Boston has dropped from about 15 or 16 several years ago to 13, according to Erin Boudreau , an outreach advocate for Roxbury Youthworks' A Way Back program.