Manchester Man Nabbed in Prostitution Sting

A buy/bust operation by a regional narcotics taskforce aimed at solicitation of prostitutes resulted in the arrests of 10 persons Wednesday, including a Manchester man.

The East Central Narcotics Taskforce set up the operation in the capitol region area after officers had developed information that there was an increase of “Johns” engaging in the illegal solicitation of prostitutes and related narcotic activities, Sgt. Richard Grimaldi of the Manchester Police Department said in a written statement.

Taskforce officers arranged to meet with the “Johns” who offered to provide an undercover officer money in exchange for sexual acts, Grimaldi said.

Arrested persons were:

• Matthew Morrissette, 34, of 17 Progress Ave., Vernon, charged with patronizing a prostitute. Bond: promise to appear.
• Vishaldeep Singh, 22, of 10 Heidi Dr., Vernon, charged with patronizing a prostitute. Bond: $500 nonsurety.
• Augustine O’Grady, 67, of 94 Nonotuck St., Florence, MA, charged with patronizing a prostitute. Bond: $500 nonsurety.
• Elvis Martinez, 38, of 200 Knollwood Rd., Manchester, charged with patronizing a prostitute. Bond: $500 nonsurety.
• Gurpheet Singh, 24, of 64 Vernon St., Vernon, charged with patronizing a prostitute and interfering with police. Bond: $10,000 nonsurety.
• Konrad Matuszak, 28, of 158 Gold St., New Britain, charged with patronizing a prostitute. Bond: $2,500 nonsurety.
• Brendan Rogowaski, 39, of 9 Evergreen St., Southwick, MA, charged with promoting prostitution. Bond: $5,000 nonsurety.
• Jessica Schoner, 29, of 100 Weston St., Hartford, charged with prostitution, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond: $10,000 surety.
• Kaitlyn Walker, 22, of 254 Bailey Woods Rd., Brooklyn, charged with first-degree failure to appear. Bond: $5,000 surety.
• Chuncy Webb, 29, of 862 Asylum Ave., Apt. L-1, Hartford, charged with criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of cocaine, interfering with an officer and third-degree promoting prostitution. Bond: $250,000 cash-surety bond in relation to the above charges. He is also being held on two separate PRAWN warrants with a total of $20,500 cash-surety bonds.

As a result of this investigation, approximately $1,500 in cash was seized, and a 2013 Honda CRV was also impounded, Grimaldi said.

The following items were seized as evidence during this incident, according to Grimaldi:

(1) Black 9mm Jennings Semi-Automatic Pistol w/ (1) Magazine

(13) Rounds of 9mm ammunition (Located inside the firearm’s magazine)

(2) Plastic corner cut bags containing approx. 1.40 grams crack cocaine

(1) Suspected glass crack cocaine pipe

(1) Glass crack cocaine pipe containing crack cocaine residue

(1) Blue LG Smartphone

The East Central Narcotics Taskforce, in cooperation with other municipal and federal law enforcement agencies, is interested in stopping illegal narcotics sales and use in the Manchester, South Windsor, Vernon, and Glastonbury communities. Anyone with information pertaining to any illicit drug activity is asked to contact the East Central Narcotics Taskforce at (860) 645-5548. All calls will remain confidential.

Photos courtesy of Manchester Police Department