Boston Police say an undercover operation by the department’s Human Trafficking Unit on June 13 ended with seven people under arrest after they allegedly tried to pay for sex. All seven suspects were booked on charges of sexual conduct for a fee and are expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court, according to a post from the Boston Police Department.
Detectives described the operation as part of an ongoing push to identify and rescue potential trafficking victims while holding buyers accountable. In other words, the unit is not just looking to make arrests, it is also trying to spot anyone who might be exploited behind the scenes of these transactions.
Who Was Arrested
The Boston Police Department identified those taken into custody as Darren Francisque, 24; Yaseen Ahmad, 19; Matthew Fitzpatrick, 26; Timothy Sitorus, 42; Angelo Furtado, 54; Rev. Mahayaye‑Vineetha Thero, 32; and Sundararajan Vaidyanathan, 56.
Each was arrested on a charge of “sex for a fee” and is scheduled to appear in Boston Municipal Court for arraignment. Police also used the social media post to ask anyone who may have photos or video connected to the case to share that material with detectives.
How To Report Tips Or Evidence
Investigators are urging anyone with information related to this sting or similar activity to reach out to the Human Trafficking Unit at (617) 343-6533. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, Boston CrimeStoppers offers several options.
Tipsters can call 1-800-494-TIPS or text the word “TIP” to CRIME (27463). The department notes that no caller ID is used on the CrimeStoppers line. The Boston Police CrimeStoppers page also hosts a secure P3 form where users can upload photos or video directly to investigators.
In its post, the department said it remains “committed to identifying and rescuing victims of trafficking and holding offenders accountable,” and encouraged community members to come forward if they see anything that looks like commercial sexual exploitation.
Where This Fits Locally
The June 13 operation was not a one-off. Recent department notices indicate the Human Trafficking Unit has repeatedly run similar undercover stings and targeted arrests across the city in recent months as part of a broader effort to disrupt commercial sexual exploitation and prosecute those trying to buy sex.
One such operation was highlighted in recent local coverage of a trafficking crackdown, underscoring how often the unit has been deploying these tactics citywide. Police say these investigations are designed not only to bring charges, but also to identify anyone who may need services or support as a trafficking victim.
Court And Next Steps
All seven defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are found guilty in court. The charges will be addressed when each is arraigned in Boston Municipal Court.
Police say the investigation into the June 13 sting remains active. Anyone who may have information, photos, or video that could help the case is asked to contact the Human Trafficking Unit or submit an anonymous tip through the CrimeStoppers channels listed above.
