Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz says five men were charged with human trafficking after attempting to meet up with an undercover police officer.
Thursday night, the State Police, Plymouth County Sheriffs, Rockland Police, and the Boston Police Human Trafficking Task Force set up a sting in Rockland.
Investigators posted a commercial sex advertisement online, with a female officer posing as an escort. A Rockland hotel was used as the meeting place.
From 8 to midnight, five men are accused of contacting the phone number posted. The men and the investigator arranged to meet up and exchange sex acts for money.
Upon arrival at the hotel, the men, 49-year-old Brian Dick of Abington, 35-year-old James Bi of Wakefield, 26-year-old Brendan Garafalo of Lakeville, 46-year-old Viet Hung Nguyen of Brockton, and 38-year-old Eric VanRiper of Pembroke were arrested by police.
All five men were arraigned in Hingham District Court for Trafficking a Person for Sexual Servitude. Each pleaded not guilty, and they were released on personal recognizance.
They’re scheduled to appear in court on September 15th.
