Officers from six local and federal law enforcement agencies conducted an undercover prostitution and sex trafficking sting operation Friday outside Bethlehem in Northampton County, according to a news release. The operation resulted in the arrests of two women on a prostitution charge, five men on a count of patronizing a prostitute and a New Jersey man for promoting prostitution, Colonial Regional police said.
Investigators set up the sting at an undisclosed motel in Hanover Township. The two women agreed to perform a sex act on an undercover male police officer for money, police said. McGroggan also faces charges of possession of cocaine and hydrocodeine and possession of a small amount of marijuana, according to police. All agreed to sex acts in exchange for money with an undercover female police officer.
Patrick Phillip Banks, 28, of the first block of Norwood Street in Newark, is charged with promoting prostitution, police said. He was sent to Northampton County Prison on a warrant out of Essex County and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday the charge from Friday, according to police. The seven others will be charged.
Those not incarcerated could not be reached for comment. No number could be found for some, for others a number listed was out of service and for some a call went unanswered or a message left was not immediately returned. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein lehighvalleylive. Follow him on Twitter KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive. All rights reserved About Us. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
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