WINDSOR LOCKS — Eleven men were arrested on Friday and charged with soliciting prostitution as a result of “Operation Cupid,” a joint effort by detectives and patrol officers to crack down on prostitution in motels along Route 75, police said.
In response to numerous complaints of prostitution happening in area motels, police placed an ad on a website that is popular with people looking to purchase sex for money and an undercover officer, posing as a prostitute, responded to several requests, police said.
The undercover officer planned to meet “clients” at a motel, where the men were then arrested by a team of back-up officers, police said.
The name of the motel was not released.
Prostitution in the area has caused an increased number of larcenies, illegal drug use, child exploitation and disorderly conduct, police said.
“This operation is a continuing proactive effort by the local law enforcement to combat increased illegal prostitution and its associated crimes, all of which have a direct impact upon the quality of life in Windsor Locks,” police spokesman Det. Sgt. Paul Cherniack said in a press release.
Arrested were: Jesse Coughlin, 33, of Chester, Mass.; Eric Oullette, 42, of Glastonbury; Brandon Blank, 28, of Bridgeport; John Norris, 53, of Enfield; Eslam Ayoub, 41, of Middletown; Wagner Brown, 34, of Waterbury; John Cook, 56, of South Windsor; Ravindra Wikramanaya, 54, of Chicopee, Mass.; Bryan Deway, 46, of Windsor Locks; James Castelvetere, 59, of Enfield; and John Wadlegger, 42, of Agawam, Mass.
In addition to soliciting prostitution, Ayoub was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault, police said.
By Kelly Glista, Hartford Courant