Sex Trafficking Bust: Gardner Man Among 10 Facing Charges

GARDNER, MA—Ten individuals, including a Gardner man, have been indicted in connection with a sex trafficking and money laundering operation in which women were sold for sex in Massachusetts communities through a purported online “escort” service that was a front for human trafficking, Attorney General Maura Healey announced on Friday.

The following were indicted 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)

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)

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)

The investigation started in September of 2016, referred to the AG by the Waltham Police Department, and found that Palic and Napolitano ran "organized and sophisticated criminal enterprise from their home offices in New Hampshire."

Reportedly, the two would allegedly advertise and provide "escort" services in the Northeast, mostly in Massachusetts, but also in New Hampshire and New York, through their website chloescompanions.com.

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.

Palic and Napolitano 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, said the AG. Further investigation revealed that Richard Napolitano, who is Charlotte’s husband, along with Peltak, Gerry and DiDomizio allegedly transported victims to these encounters and helped to collect and transport money involved in this trafficking operation, according to the announcement.

Authorities say that most of the money went to Palic and Napolitano, which Palic laundered through businesses to perpetuate the daily operations. Allegedly Cook, Vivilecchia, Simpson, and Johnson all helped to launder the money, and that all four paid Palic for sex and Johnson allegedly paid her for sex through his company’s payroll checks.

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