On March 10, 2022, the Lancaster County Human Trafficking Task Force completed its first successful operation in its mission to combat human trafficking in Lancaster County. 14 suspects were arrested for allegedly arranging to buy sex from an undercover officer.
The Task Force, which launched on January 11, placed an advertisement online, and an undercover female officer made contact with over 100 suspected sex buyers over an 8 hour period, who arranged to exchange money for sexual activity. 14 of the alleged sex buyers were arrested at a hotel in East Hempfield Township. They are charged with patronizing prostitutes under 18 Pa C.S. § 5902 and criminal conspiracy under 18 Pa C.S. § 903.
The following were arrested: Eddie Vazquez-Gomez, 47, from Mount Joy was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; Aaron O’Brien, 41, from Lancaster was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; Eric Rivera, 32, from Millersville, was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; Gavin Snader, 49, from Pequea was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; William McClucas, 59, from Willow Street was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; Paul Hale, 54, Lancaster, was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; Brian Keil, 46, from Coatesville, was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; Juan Colon, 37, from Lancaster, was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; Gary Peters, 57, from Williamsburg, Ky., was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; Marco Matos, 37, from Gap, was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; Neptali Marroquin, 35, from Lancaster, was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; Elijah Santos, 27, from Lancaster, was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes; Michael Boyles, 40, from Maytown, was arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes, and criminal conspiracy; and Thomas Brown, 52, from Marietta, was arrested for allegedly committing criminal conspiracy.
The defendants are currently awaiting their preliminary hearings, where they will be arraigned, and their bails will be set by the judge on each case. The charges are both third-degree misdemeanors and are punishable of a maximum of up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.
Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams commented, “This operation was directly aimed at reducing the demand for commercial sex. Those who patronize prostitution in our community fuel traffickers who fill that demand with victims.” The District Attorney stated that the Task Force will continue conducting operations and warns prospective buyers to “refrain from advancing human trafficking.”
While discussing the creation of the task force, DA Adams highlighted the need for a victim-centered approach. “We’re trying to put victims first,” she commented, “we’re trying to acknowledge that they’re going to need services.” The Lancaster County Human Trafficking Task Force has prioritized creating relationships with victim service providers in order to obtain social services that are crucial for victims.
The CSE Institute commends the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office for recognizing that decreasing the demand for commercial sex is one of the most important aspects of addressing human trafficking. We applaud the Lancaster County Human Trafficking Task Force for their commitment to targeting sex buyers, assisting victims, and combating commercial sexual exploitation. The CSE Institute will provide updates as they become available.
All views expressed herein are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law or of Villanova University.