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The Lancaster County Human Trafficking Task Force, launched on January 11, but in less than 2 months it has successfully completed it's operation, Lancaster County media specialist Sean McBryan says in a statement released on Thursday, Mar. 24.
After the task placed the ad online, the undercover female detective answered over 100 "Johns" who replied to the online ad— all in about eight hours on Mar. 10, McBryan says.
Some of the respondents "made arrangements to exchange money, ranging from $80 to $200, for sexual activity," McBryan states in the release.
The 14 Johns were arrested at a hotel in East Hempfield Township, according to the release.
They are accused of patronizing prostitutes and criminal conspiracy— both are third-degree misdemeanors punishable of up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine, officials say.
The following were arrested:
- Eddie Vazquez-Gomez, 47, Mount Joy
- Aaron O’Brien, 41, Lancaster
- Eric Rivera, 32, Millersville
- Gavin Snader, 49, Pequea
- William McClucas, 59, Willow Street
- Paul Hale, 54, Lancaster
- Brian Keil, 46, Coatesville
- Juan Colon, 37, Lancaster
- Gary Peters, 57, Williamsburg, Ky.
- Marco Matos, 37, Gap
- Neptali Marroquin, 35, Lancaster Elijah Santos, 27, Lancaster
- Michael Boyles, 40, Maytown
- Thomas Brown, 52, Marietta
“Unfortunately, as seen by the number of arrests and inquiries into the advertisement posted by the Task Force, the demand for this clearly exists right here in Lancaster,” District Attorney Heather Adams said. “This was the first but certainly won’t be the last operation conducted. Prospective buyers should take note and act accordingly by refraining from advancing human trafficking.”
The defendants will be sent a summons to appear for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Brian E. Chudzik at which time they will be arraigned and bail set, according to the release.
Daily Voice did not immediately hear back when it reached out to officials for additional details on. Thursday morning.
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