Reading Lawyer Charged With Trading Drugs For Sex

A Reading lawyer who runs a Roxbury sober house for men is being charged of trading those in recovery drugs in exchange for sex.

David Perry, 57, was indicted Friday by a grand jury on 15 counts of evidence tampering, seven counts of conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs, six counts of possession of illegal class B, C, and E substances, and six counts of sex for a fee.

Perry owns and operates Recovery Education Services, a nonprofit on Washington Street in Roxbury. He offered the men who stayed there legal representation and advice, as well as cash and free rent at the sober home, in exchange for sex, according to Attorney General Maura Healey. The alleged sex took place in Perry's room at the sober home as well as in his Reading home.

Perry had been indicted in February on charges of distribution of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs.

He was arraigned on several of charges in Suffolk Superior Court Wednesday. Perry pleaded not guilty and was held on $10,000 bail. He also will be monitored with a GPS, confided largely to his home, and must stay away from the sober home he owns, among other conditions.

He is due back in court May 21.

Perry will be arraigned on the charges of possession of illegal Class B, C, and E substances and three sex for free counts in Middlesex Superior Court at a later date.

Perry also allegedly falsified letters he sent to probation departments on behalf of several people, including those who he represented and some who lives at the home. He falsely stated the people were tested for drugs and passed urine tests, and sometimes he said people who didn't live at the home did, according to prosecutors.

Perry was arrested in November after authorities executed a search warrant at the sober home and his Reading home, finding cocaine, fentanyl, and various prescription drugs.