Bergen County Man Charged with Human Trafficking After Authorities Discover Prostitution Ring

A Bergen County man was charged with engaging in child prostitution after police discovered a human trafficking ring operating in North Jersey.

The Fort Lee Police Department uncovered the prostitution and human trafficking ring, authorities announced Wednesday.

Gayan DeSilva, 34, of Englewood, allegedly was in a room in a Fort Lee motel with a 17-year-old girl he reportedly paid Yadir Araujo to have sex with, said Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli.

Araujo, and John Gaudin both 32, allegedly recruited and employed two juvenile girls to work for them as prostitutes in and around North Jersey, said Molinelli.

A Fort Lee police officer noticed a suspicious vehicle parked near a motel with a male in it; the man, later identified as Araujo, had several condoms and a woman’s purse in the car, Molinelli said. Araujo showed the officer a room in the motel where a 17-year-old girl was “working,” said Molinelli.

Gayan DeSilva, 34, of Englewood, was in the room with the girl; he allegedly paid Araujo to have sex with the girl, Molinelli said.

A subsequent investigation revealed that Araujo and Gaudin hired the girl and her 17-year-old sibling to work for them as prostitutes, authorities said.

Araujo and Gaudin would drive the siblings to appointments at various locations, including motels, which were set up online, Molinelli said.

Authorities found guns, cell phones, computers, and other items used to run an illegal credit card fraud operation out of Gaudin’s Parlin home.

DeSilva was charged with human trafficking, engaging in child prostitution, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He was sent to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail with no 10 percent option.

Araujo and Gaudin were each charged with three counts of human trafficking, two counts of promoting child prostitution, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. They were sent to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail each with no 10 percent option.

Pictured above: Gayan DeSilva, 34