John L. Caruso, the Haverhill tax adviser charged two years ago with human trafficking, drug possession and maintaining a house of prostitution, was sentenced Friday to three years in state prison.
Eighty-year-old Caruso avoided trial after prosecutors offered him a plea deal. Essex County Assistant District Attorney Jessica Strasnick told Essex County Superior Court Associate Justice Elizabeth Dunigan her office agreed to drop the most serious charges of human trafficking, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. The deal was in exchange for Caruso’s guilty plea on the charge of maintaining a house of prostitution and four related drug possession charges.
The lifelong Haverhill resident, who told the court he taught at Northern Essex Community College for 25 years before retirement, was arrested Feb. 16, 2024, by Haverhill Police after an investigation into a reported drug overdose death of an unnamed woman at Caruso’s property.
In a victim impact statement read by Strasnick, the mother of the deceased woman said the court system failed her daughter. She explained she is unhappy prosecutors dropped human trafficking charges because they carry higher minimum jail sentences and that Caruso had been allowed to live in his apartment on home confinement even though several of his victims still rented apartments from him in the same building.
The deceased woman was found Jan. 8, 2024, at 173 River St., Haverhill, where the prosecutor said Caruso lived and operated a tax preparation and financial advisory business and owns an apartment building. The police investigation indicated Caruso was using his home as a location to pay women to have sex with him and other men.
In his statement to the court Caruso apologized. He said, “I am very sorry. I am sorry for those involved. I am sorry for my family. I am embarrassed.” Caruso was represented by Haverhill defense attorney Scott Gleason.
Besides prison time, Caruso also will be required to register as a sex offender, stay away from his victims, remain drug free and serve two years of probation following prison.
Caruso was later indicted by an Essex County grand jury and charged with four counts of human trafficking, four drug charges—including one felony—and maintaining a house of prostitution. He was arraigned in Essex County Superior Court May 13, 2024. He has been out of jail on $75,000 cash bail and on house arrest at his River Street address.