Two Columbia Men Charged in Reverse Prostitution Sting: Police

LAUREL, MD – Howard County police charged eight men for soliciting prostitution at a Laurel hotel this week, and officers have also been posting messages on adult websites to warn potential offenders.

“HCPD has zero tolerance for prostitution and human trafficking. If you commit these crimes, you will be arrested, prosecuted and your personal information released to the media,” the Howard County Police Department posted on the website Backpage.com this week.

True to its word, the Howard County Police Department reported Thursday that it has charged the following individuals with solicitation of prostitution, disorderly conduct and related offenses:

• Tauhid Byrd, 41, of Columbia
• James Walls, 47, of Columbia
• Marvin Barrios, 35, of Silver Spring
• Judonald Haynes, 35, of Lanham
• Anthony Dixon, 31, of Fairmont Heights
• Oscar Flores, 51, of Beltsville
• Charles Satchell, 45, of Annapolis
• Dorian Evans, 51, of Fort Washington

The charges stem from a “reverse prostitution sting,” in which officers posted an ad on the website Backpage, “a site known to detectives to be used for prostitution,” according to police.

When people called the number listed in the ad, female officers answered and set up meetings with the callers at their request, police reported.

After the men arrived at the agreed-upon location—a hotel in the 9800 block of Washington Boulevard in Laurel—and offered the undercover officers money for sex acts, they were arrested, according to police.

Court records show the offenses occurred on Monday, Feb. 1, and Tuesday, Feb. 2.

“This is part of Howard County’s ongoing effort to combat prostitution, human trafficking and related offenses,” police said in a statement on Thursday, Feb. 4. “The HCPD is posting ads on relevant websites reminding people of the dangers and penalties of engaging in this kind of activity.”

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Photo Credit: Pennsylvania Patch.