In a coordinated sting operation, Auburn Police Department, backed by the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (CEMLEC) SWAT Team, cracked down on a suspected sex trafficking ring leading to six arrests. In an early morning raid on July 24, law enforcement descended upon 43 Chestnut Avenue, an address linked through surveillance and digital sleuthing to human trafficking activities. As officers with a loudspeaker announced their legal authority to search, they prepared to potentially confront armed individuals inside.
The investigation targeted a specific individual, Benley Lysius, accused of advertising prostitution and profiting from the illegal enterprise. According to the Auburn MA Police Department's social media post, Lysius was also implicated in daily drug activities emanating from the residence. Subsequent searches unveiled a second loaded firearm in a Worcester storage unit, which belonged to Lysius, resulting in additional firearms charges.
The operation netted multiple individuals facing various charges from shoplifting to unlawful firearm possession. Benley Lysius, the primary suspect, was slapped with a warrant for Trafficking of a Person for Sexual Servitude and gun-related offenses. Other individuals apprehended include Corianna Dupuis, Rebecca Falke, Joseph Costin, Precious Johnson, and Tmarrie Johnson, who faced an array of charges such as resisting arrest, substance possession, and firearm violations. The police clarified through their announcement, "the three women arrested are not believed to be victims of human trafficking."
This successful bust was, in part, thanks to concerned Auburn residents alerting the authorities about suspicious activities in their neighborhood. The Auburn Police Department has invited the community to continue promptly reporting any criminal behavior. Confidential tips can be handed in either by contacting the department at 508-832-7777 or via email to [email protected]. Such collaboration between law enforcement and community members showcases a collective commitment to confront to and dismantle networks of exploitation and crime.
