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The reverse sting was set into motion on Wednesday, April 12, when a female Burlington officer posing as a hooker posted an ad for sexual services on a site known for prostitution. She offered to meet them at a local motel for a fee. Officials didn't release the name of the hotel used for the joint operation with the Department of Homeland Security.
Those arrested in the sting were charged with sexual conduct for a fee, police said.
They include —
- Narciso Melo, age 40, of Bradford
- Pedram Riahi, 50, of Burlington
- Matthew Young-Thomas, 26, of Medford
- Kevin Duffy, 64, of Winchester
- Lawrence Liu, 54, of Medford
- Chervens Saint Louis, 32, of Lowell
- Mayurkumar Patel, 25, of Boston
The Burlington Police Chief Thomas Browne said the sting was less about catching johns and more about preventing and attacking human trafficking.
“I would like to thank Homeland Security Investigations for their support with this investigation. HSI has experts in human trafficking that help inform and support our investigations as we work to stop and prevent human trafficking and sex crimes in town,” Chief Thomas Browne said in a press release. “I congratulate the officers involved in this investigation on a job well done.”
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