A Haitian migrant has been convicted of raping a teenage girl at a Massachusetts hotel that was being used as a migrant shelter. The case, which shocked the Rockland community, ended with a guilty verdict in Plymouth Superior Court on Friday.
The man, identified as Cory Alvarez, was found guilty of one count of aggravated rape of a child, with a 10-year age difference. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Jury deliberations began on Thursday, and the decision was reached Friday morning, according to court records.
The incident happened on March 13, 2024, at the Comfort Inn in Rockland. At the time, the hotel was being used as a migrant shelter. On that day, a 15-year-old girl told hotel staff she had been raped. Staff immediately contacted police, leading to Alvarez’s arrest.
During the trial, the now 17-year-old girl testified in court, telling jurors through a translator: “He did something bad to me.” Prosecutors presented DNA evidence linking Alvarez to the crime.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz released a statement after the verdict, saying: “The jury has spoken, and we thank them for their time and due diligence in finding Cory Alvarez guilty. This difficult case has always been about going forward to seek justice on behalf of this child victim.”
Alvarez has been in custody since last year. He was initially held on $500 bail, but the amount was later raised to $150,000 to ensure he remained in the country for trial. Immigration authorities had taken him into custody after he posted the lower bail, but later returned him to state custody under an agreement with the district attorney’s office.
Court records show Alvarez legally entered the United States under the Biden administration’s Humanitarian Parole Program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. He reportedly lived in New York City before moving to Massachusetts.
On August 13, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed Alvarez in custody. He is currently being held in an ICE unit within the Plymouth County House of Corrections while awaiting sentencing on September 30.
The conviction highlights growing debates around migrant shelters, immigration policies, and public safety. Many are now asking how such incidents can be prevented in the future while still supporting vulnerable migrant populations.