22 men arrested in 'Operation Backpage'
PROVIDENCE — Twenty-two men were recently arrested due to an undercover sting called "Operation Backpage."
Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, Commissioner Steven M. Par, Col. Hugh T. Clements, Jr. and Peg Langhammer, who is the executive director of Day One, made the announcement at a press conference Friday afternoon.
In an effort to combat solicitation for sex and the use of Backpage.com, which is a classified advertising website, the Providence Police Department conducted "Operation Backpage" on three different dates throughout March. Authorities targeted men who were answering to ads to pay for the illegal procurement of sex.
"I commend the Providence Police on this successful operation," Elorza said in a press release. "Addressing procurement for sex and human trafficking is a high priority of my administration. We are sending a strong message, loud and clear, that the Providence Police are monitoring Backpage.com aggressively and individuals committing these atrocities are using the site at their own peril."
Providence Police Narcotics Bureau Detectives placed advertisements on Backpage.com disguised as women soliciting for sex. The undercover policewomen arranged to meet the responding males inside four different local area hotels, where they were each were arrested and charged with "procurement of sexual conduct for a fee," and either have been or will be arraigned in 6th district court.
"Prostitution is a crime that will not be tolerated in Providence," said Commissioner Par. "The Providence Police will continue to be vigilant in ridding the city of prostitution. Those who come to Providence to pursue this crime will suffer the consequences for their actions."
Clements and Langhammer agreed. While Clements noted that Providence police "will continue our efforts to end the illegal solicitation on Backpage.com" and that individuals "involved in these crimes should be aware that we are out there and we are watching," Langhammer said the organization is seeing "an unprecedented number of these cases almost on daily basis."
Langhammer went on to say how important it is for authorities and organizations to take what she described as a team approach, particularly one that is victim-centered.
"The commercial sexual exploitation of children is child abuse, a form of sexual abuse, and these girls are victims," she said. "Day One is currently holding weekly multi-disciplinary team meetings to coordinate response to these cases, as well as providing trauma-informed treatment for trafficking victims of all ages."
According to a press release, defendants charged in Operation Backpage include:
Christopher Kingsley, age 21
Steven Pimental, age 37
Brian Cote, age 53
Earl Goodby, age 65
Jason Hiatt, age 38
McGeary LittleJohn, age 28
Juan Barona, age 31
Randall Micale, age 48
Ricky Lliguicota, age 22
Aloysius Nyanford, age 30
Wilmont Smith, Jr., age 33
Raymond Wyss, age 41
Michael DeMonti, age 37
Gian Papa, age 24
Dustin Chamberlain, age 22
Alejandro Martinez-Andino, age 22
Jarred Martin, age 28
Owen O'Connor, age 39
Bard Moshagen, age 45
Matthew Madison, age 32
Mark Condon, age 56
Andre Williams, age 21