‘Operation Poison Ivy’ Prostitution Bust Snatches 10

MANCHESTER, NH — Six women and four men were arrested in Manchester yesterday and this morning as the department’s patrol and special enforcement divisions continue to work to “improve the quality of life for residents,” according to police. Four men –Thomas Fournier, 55, pictured upper left, of Laconia; Lemus Rodriguez, 29, pictured upper center, of Manchester; Jeromy Woodey, 34, picturd upper right, of Manchester; and Sheldon Hill, 75 of Manchester – were all charged with prostitution during the course of the undercover operation. Bridgette Lebedew, 37, pictured middle left, of Manchester; Kelly McAndrew, 41, pictured center, with no fixed address; Kaitlyn Koester, 30, pictured right middle, of Manchester; Vivian Gaudet, 54, pictured lower left, of Manchester; Cathy Hill, 49, pictured lower center, of Manchester; Nichole Pelletier, 32, pictured lower right, of Manchester, were also all charged with prostitution.

Editor’s Note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Manchester Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

Three female officers and two male detectives, according to Lt. Brian O’Keefe of the Manchester Police Department, reportedly went undercover in the Enright Park area of the city beginning at around 4 p.m. on July 13, 2017.

Fournier allegedly stopped his pickup truck in the area of Manchester and Beech streets and spoke with one of the female officers. He allegedly “eventually asked her to perform a sexual favor for money” and a marked vehicle stopped and arrested him.

About an hour later, Rodriguez reportedly began speaking with another undercover female officer from his Hyundai on Manchester Street and allegedly solicited sexual acts for money.

“The officer asked him to pick her up at another location,” O’Keefe alleged. “A marked unit stopped Rodriguez and arrested him without incident.”

A detective in an unmarked vehicle pulled over to speak with Lebedew at around 8:40 p.m. and she allegedly got into his vehicle. Inside the vehicle, she allegedly discussed performing sexual acts for money so the detective provided additional officers with a predetermined signal and a marked cruiser stopped the vehicle and arrested her. Lebedew – who is no stranger to police, having been arrested numerous times in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts – had an outstanding warrant out of Hillsborough County for failure to appear so she was held without bail and will be arraigned later today.

About 10 minutes later, the detective drove through the area of Merrimack and Wilson streets and encountered McAndrew, who allegedly entered his vehicle, discussed sex acts in exchange for money, and was arrested.

A half an hour later, the detective scored another arrest when Koester entered his unmarked vehicle and allegedly discussed performing sexual favors for a price. They were stopped on Amherst Street and she was arrested. Koester was released on $1,000 cash bail.

A third female officer in plainclothes was in the area of Manchester and Union streets at around 10 p.m. when Woodey reportedly pulled up next to her and engaged in a conversation. He allegedly agreed to exchange money for sexual acts with the officer and his vehicle was stopped in the Cumberland Farms on Hanover Street. Woodey, who was arrested on a burglary charge back in May 2015, in Gilmanton, is due in court this morning.

Less than 30 minutes later, the male detective was in the area of Manchester and Union streets where he was allegedly propositioned by Gaudet and she was arrested in the unmarked cruiser on Hanover Street.

Twenty minutes later, the detective encountered Cathy Hill near Maple Street and she was arrested after he was stopped by a marked cruiser on Amherst Street.

At just after midnight, one of the plainclothes female officers was approached by an elderly man in an SUV.

“The lone occupant stated he was looking for a date for the evening and agreed to exchange money for sexual favors,” O’Keefe alleged. “(She) told him to meet her at another location where he was stopped by a marked unit and arrested without incident.”

Pelletier was arrested at just before 12:30 a.m. this morning between Manchester and Merrimack streets after a detective pulled over on the side of the street and was “immediately approached” by her. She was arrested on Hanover Street.

Eight of the 10 people arrested have court dates on Aug. 17, according to police.