Sex Trafficking Ring Busted Thanks In Part To Waltham Police

WALTHAM, MA —Thanks to the Waltham Police department, a state-wide sex trafficking and money laundering ring have has been busted. Ten people were indicted recently in connection with an operation in which women were sold for sex around the state, including in Newton and Waltham through an online “escort” service that was a front for human trafficking, Attorney General Maura Healey announced Friday.

The AG’s office began an investigation the ring in September 2016 after the Waltham Police Department referred the situation to the government body. The AG’s investigation revealed that two New Hampshire women going by the names of "Chloe" and "Red" ran an organized and sophisticated criminal ring from their home offices in New Hampshire.

They allegedly advertised and provided “escort” services in the Northeast, primarily in Massachusetts, but also in New Hampshire and New York, through their website, chloescompanions.com, which was set up as a front to facilitate commercial sexual activity.

Authorities allege that about 12 to 15 women were trafficked using this website at any given time. The website provided profiles of the women and a calendar for available dates and locations for each woman. The AG’s Office obtained a court order to have the website taken down and it has since been removed.

Sonya Palic (a.k.a. Chloe), 46, of Manchester, and Charlotte Napolitano (a.k.a. Red), 46, of Bedford allegedly arranged for women to meet with men, either for “in-calls” or “out-calls” at hotels, to provide commercial sexual services in exchange for cash.

Women were allegedly trafficked in local cities and towns including Boston, Braintree, Lexington, Newton and Waltham. Further investigation revealed that Richard Napolitano, who is Charlotte’s husband, along with Eric Peltak, 44, of Manchester, Caleb Gerry,23, of Gardner, NH and Anthony DiDomizio, 52, of Manchester allegedly transported women to these encounters and helped to collect and transport money involved in this trafficking operation.

Authorities allege that the majority of the money from these encounters went to "Chloe" and "Red" and Palic laundered money through businesses to perpetuate the daily operations of the criminal enterprise.

Four others helped to launder the money. Authorities allege that these four paid Palic for sex and one allegedly paid her for sex through his company’s payroll checks.

These charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Through the Human Trafficking Division, the AG’s Office has charged more than 35 individuals in connection with human trafficking since a law regarding it went into effect in 2012.

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The following individuals were indicted Thursday, Sept. 28 by a Statewide Grand Jury:

Sonya Palic (a.k.a. Chloe), age 46, of Manchester, NH
Trafficking Persons for Sexual Servitude (19 counts)
Deriving Support from Prostitution (19 counts)
Money Laundering (4 counts)
Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude (3 counts)
Conspiracy to Launder Money (4 counts)
Palic will be arraigned in Suffolk, Middlesex and Norfolk Superior Courts at later dates.
Charlotte Napolitano (a.k.a. Red), age 46, of Bedford, NH
Trafficking Persons for Sexual Servitude (19 counts)
Deriving Support from Prostitution (19 counts)
Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude (3 counts)
Napolitano will be arraigned in Suffolk, Middlesex and Norfolk Superior Courts at later dates.
Charles Cook, age 65, Marblehead, MA
Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude (1 count)
Conspiracy to Launder Money (1 count)
Sex for a Fee (1 count)
John Vivilecchia, age 53, Groveland, MA
Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude (1 count)
Conspiracy to Launder Money (1 count)
Sex for a Fee (1 count)
David Johnson, age 60, Carver, MA
Money Laundering (1 count)
Conspiracy to Launder Money (1 count)
Sex for a Fee (1 count)
Eric Simpson, age 44, Mendon, MA
Money Laundering (1 count)
Conspiracy to Launder Money (1 count)
Sex for a Fee (1 count)
Anthony DiDomizio, age 52, Manchester, NH
Trafficking Persons for Sexual Servitude (3 counts)
Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude (1 count)
Caleb Gerry, age 23, Gardner, MA
Trafficking Persons for Sexual Servitude (1 count)
Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude (1 count)
Richard Napolitano, age 43, Bedford, NH
Trafficking Persons for Sexual Servitude (1 count)
Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude (1 count)
Eric Peltak, age 44, Manchester, NH
Trafficking Persons for Sexual Servitude (3 counts)
Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude (1 count)

Several were initially arrested on Feb. 8 as a result of an investigation by the AG’s Human Trafficking Division.

Cook, Vivilecchia, Johnson, Simpson, DiDomizio, Gerry, Richard Napolitano, and Peltak will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court at a later date.