Crime & Safety
Middlesex County Prostitution Sting Nets 9 Arrests
Men from Acton, Billerica, and Lowell—among others—were arrested. One allegedly assaulted an undercover officer posing as a prostitute.
Nine men were arrested in a Burlington prostitution sting, police announced Sunday.
The sting was conducted last week involved an undercover officer posing as a prostitute. She placed online advertisements and the men responded, meeting up with the officer for what they thought was a sexual encounter, police said.
“Prostitution is not a victimless crime,” Burlington police said in a statement. “We will do these operations until nobody shows up.”
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Last year, Burlington police held another prostitution sting that netted eight arrests.
The nine men arrested this time were:
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- Emad Aljahdii, 34, of Burlington
- Aaron Bath,43, of Billerica
- Mauro Santiago, 36, of Dracut
- Richard Homsi, 50, of Waltham
- Auric Mak, 35, of Lowell
- Shakwaan Simpkins, 24, of Brockton
- Grishkumar Patel,53, of Woburn
- Anthony Petruno, 29, of Acton
Simpkins was also charged with sex trafficking after he allegedly tried to recruit the officer to work as a prostitute for him. And Homsi was also charged with indecent assault after grabbing the officer.
All men will be arraigned Tuesday in Woburn District Court.
Photo—Top row (left to right): Aljahdii, Bath, Middle: Santiago, Homsi, Mak. Bottom: Simpkins, Patel, Petruno.
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