Ludlow Man Charged with Witness Tampering and Retaliation

BOSTON - A Ludlow man has been arrested and charged for allegedly threatening the father of a victim in a pending federal sex trafficking case.

Christopher Barbaro, 72, was charged with harassing and threatening a witness in an ongoing sex trafficking prosecution. The defendant was arrested on March 27, 2026 and made an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson in federal court in Boston. The defendant was released on conditions.

According to the charging document, in May 2025, Barbaro's grandson was charged with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor and with transporting a victim to engage in prostitution. While those crimes were under investigation in the fall of 2024, government investigators interviewed multiple people, including one of the victims and that victim's father. After the individuals had been interviewed, Barbaro allegedly sent the victim's father a text message in November 2024 that stated: "You and your kid are a couple of f***** rats [rat emoji] and you know what happens to rats they choke on cheese you no good mother f***** I know what you guys did."

It is further alleged that in December 2025, Barbaro allegedly called the victim's father and left the following voicemail: "You c***sucker. I'm gonna get ahold of you at your f****** office, you prick. Be ready!" Five minutes after leaving that voicemail, Barbaro allegedly called the victim's father again and told him, among other things, that he was a "rat."

In March 2026, Barbaro allegedly told federal agents that he made communications to the victim's father. It is further alleged that Barbaro confirmed that he knew where the victim's father lives and works. Barbaro allegedly stated that if he saw the victim's father he would "beat the s*** out of him…after what he did to my grandson." When asked again if he would beat up the victim's father, Barbaro allegedly stated, "I'd like to smash his face is what I'd like to do, for what he did miss. I'll be honest with you. You can write that down. Take it as a threat. Whatever you wanna do. But that's my feelings towards him. Alright? He's a slippery SOB."

"My office is committed to vigorously prosecuting anyone who threatens or harasses victims or witnesses," said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. "This office is committed to protecting the brave individuals who report crimes and assist in prosecutions to hold defendants accountable for their criminal conduct."

"Christopher Barbaro learned today that witness tampering can land you in handcuffs," said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. "Mr. Barbaro is accused of harassing and threatening to harm a federal witness in a sex trafficking conspiracy case involving his grandson. Let me be clear: ensuring the safety of federal witnesses both before and after a prosecution is paramount, and the FBI takes Barbaro's alleged acts extremely seriously."

The charge of harassing another person and thereby hindering a person from assisting in a criminal prosecution, or attempting to do so, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of threatening to cause bodily injury with intent to retaliate against a witness, or attempting to do so, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

U.S. Attorney Foley and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Ludlow, Wilbraham and East Longmeadow Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Torey B. Cummings, Craig Estes and Kunal Pasricha of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.