Friday The 13th Sting At Newton Hotel Nets Alleged Sex Trafficker: DA

NEWTON, MA — A man has been charged in connection with human trafficking at a Newton Hotel on Friday the 13th, according to the Newton Police Chief and the DA.

After Newton Police conducted an undercover sting as part of the FBI’s human tmen have been charged following arafficking operation at a hotel on Grove Street in Newton last Friday, they arrested James Florence, 22 of Dorchester under arrest.

That sting came on the same day two other men were arrested on a joint operation with the FBI Boston Division’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force targeting human trafficking, Newton Police Chief David MacDonald along with Middlesex District Attorney and the Woburn Police Chief announced today.

As part of the Newton investigation, undercover officers communicated with a woman through a website that advertises sexual services and through text messages arranged a meeting on Friday, Oct. 13 at the Newton hotel.

When police got to the hotel, undercover agents spoke to the woman whose advertisement they had responded to. She described a car that the man who had brought her to the hotel was operating. Newton Police located the car that matched her description and placed Florence under arrest. He was arraigned in Newton District Court on October 16. Judge Mary Hefferman set bail at $1,000 cash. The next scheduled hearing in this case is November 17.

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Meanwhile in Woburn on Friday the 13th, Woburn Police and FBI agents were conducting an undercover investigation at a hotel on Mishawum Road in Woburn.

Authorities discovered two alleged sex traffickers who were trafficking a young adult female out of their car. Authorities also searched the men and the motor vehicle and allegedly located approximately 117 grams of drugs including cocaine and marijuana, as well as $24,000 in cash.

Woburn Police arrested Theodore Gamble Williams, 32, of Dorchester, and charged him with trafficking cocaine, trafficking a person for sexual servitude, possession with intent to distribute a Class C substance, conspiracy, trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance, conspiracy to violate the drug laws and resisting arrest. Police also arrested Jarrid Thomas, 29, of Roxbury, and charged him with trafficking cocaine, trafficking a person for sexual servitude, conspiracy and conspiracy to violate the drug laws. Gamble-Williams and Thomas were arraigned on October 16 in Woburn District Court.

Judge David Frank set bail for Gamble-Williams at $25,000 cash and ordered the defendant to stay away from, and have no contact with, the victim. Judge Frank then revoked Gamble-Williams’ bail due to a pending case. The next scheduled hearing is October 30.

Judge Frank set bail for Thomas at $25,000 cash and ordered the defendant to stay away from, and have no contact with, the victim. The next scheduled hearing in this case is October 30.

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Photo of Newton Police Cruiser by Jenna Fisher/Patch