Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, § 4B (2026)

Living off or sharing earnings of minor prostitute

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 4B. Whoever lives or derives support or maintenance, in whole or in part, from the earnings or proceeds of prostitution committed by a minor, knowing the same to be earnings or proceeds of prostitution, or shares in such earnings, proceeds or monies, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than five years and by a fine of five thousand dollars. The sentence imposed under this section shall not be reduced to less than five years, nor suspended, nor shall any person convicted under this section be eligible for probation, parole or furlough or receive any deduction from his sentence for good conduct or otherwise until he shall have served five years of such sentence. Prosecutions commenced under this section shall not be continued without a finding nor placed on file.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 10 cases, 1983–2018 · leading case: Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 999 N.E.2d 478 (Mass. 2013).

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Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 999 N.E.2d 478 (Mass. 2013). · cites it 5× “1 That conviction is a “like violation” to the Massachusetts offense of living off of or sharing earnings of a minor prostitute, G. L. c. 272, § 4B, an enumerated offense requiring registration as a sex offender.”

Logan v. Gelb, 790 F.3d 65 (1st Cir. 2015). · cites it 2× “- The Commonwealth charged Logan with one count of living off or sharing the earnings of a minor prostitute in violation of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, § 4B. His first trial, from August 20 to 22, 2007, ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury.”

Commonwealth v. Powell, 901 N.E.2d 686 (Mass. 2009). · cites it 2× “269, § 10F (illegal sale of large capacity weapons); G. L. c. 269, § 10G (violations of G.”

Commonwealth v. Brown, 112 N.E.3d 264 (Mass. 2018). · cites it 2× “6 Furthermore, G. L. c. 272, § 4B, which criminalizes living off of or sharing in the earnings of a prostitute who is a minor in language that parallels the language of G.”

Commonwealth v. Baker, 455 N.E.2d 642 (Mass. App. Ct. 1983). · cites it 4× “The defendant has appealed from his conviction under G. L. c. 272, § 4B, 1 by a judge of the Superior Court sitting without jury.”

Commonwealth v. Matos, 941 N.E.2d 645 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011). “For example, G. L. c. 272, § 4B, the “pandering” statute, 6 makes it a crime to derive support or maintenance “from the earnings or proceeds of prostitution committed by a minor,” or to share in such earnings or proceeds.”

Logan v. Gelb, 52 F. Supp. 3d 122 (D. Mass. 2014). “Logan was subsequently charged with violating, inter alia, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, section 4B, which criminalizes deriving support from the earnings of a minor prostitute.”

Commonwealth v. Grant, 898 N.E.2d 883 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009). “272, § 4A; (13) living off or sharing earnings of a minor prostitute, G. L. c. 272, § 4B; (14) open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, G.”

Commonwealth v. Asmeron, 875 N.E.2d 870 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 3× “272, § 4B, 6 requires the Commonwealth to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that (1) Darcy was engaged in prostitution (2) as a minor 7 ; (3) the defendant knew Darcy was a prostitute; and (4) the defendant derived support or shared in the monetary proceeds of prostitution,…”

Commonwealth v. Halstrom, 996 N.E.2d 892 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 2× “272, § 4A, and deriving support from a minor prostitute, G. L. c. 272, § 4B. 2 Both defendants argue that the jury instructions were erroneous with regard to the definition of “inducement,” that there was insufficient evidence as to inducement, and that the prosecutor’s closing…”

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