Atlantic Produce CEO charged with sex trafficking minor

June 1, 2016 7:33 am

By The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ The owner of a Rhode Island hydroponic business that produces lettuce under the “Boston Greens” label has been charged with sex trafficking a minor.

Lewis Valenti, the CEO of West Kingston-based Atlantic Produce, appeared Tuesday in federal court in Providence.

Valenti, who has homes in East Greenwich and Reading, Massachusetts, turned himself over to authorities Monday.

Prosecutors say Valenti contacted Rhode Island state police in March to report that someone was threatening to tell his family about his sexual encounters with a 17-year-old girl. Investigators learned that Valenti had sex with the teen dozens of times beginning in 2014 after the girl’s boyfriend, who is also facing charges, posted ads on backpage.com offering her as a prostitute.