Police Snatch Men on Sex for Fee Charges

Local men are facing sex for fee charges after Brookline Police responded to and created online ads requesting sexual services, according to police reports.

David Slatton, 50, of Billerica, was arrested at 2:58 p.m. on Feb. 13, and charged with sexual conduct for a fee and possession of a Class C drug with intent to distribute.

Byron Hawes, 26, of Billerica, was arrested at 5:07 p.m. on Feb. 13, on a sexual conduct for a fee charge.

According to arrest reports provided by the Brookline Police Department, a number of detectives, as part of an ongoing undercover investigation into drug and prostitution incidents in the area, both looked through and published Craigslist ads in an effort to nab potential johns and those who might be trading drugs for sex.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Brookline Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a Patch police report

Allegedly trading Xanax for sex

At around 10:20 a.m. on the same day as Atnafu was arrested, a detective came across another ad entitled “very cute guy for trade. Zanax” m4w (north of boston).”

“(The detective) clicked on the posted ad and a picture was then observed of an erect penis,” according to the report, with the writer explaining he was looking for “a hot woman” later in the day adding, “looking to trade Zans for what ever we can work out. Safely of course.”

The reporting detective again used the “Ally Pie” pseudonym and email address to contact the man, “Dan,” using gmail.

After the back and forth on email and texts, detectives set up surveillance in a driveway next to the meeting location. A man exited a van and began walking towards the meeting location with a cellphone out. Police ran a check on the van and confirmed it belonged to Slatton and he was placed under arrest as he approached the meeting location.

During a pat down, police allegedly found two pills in his right rear pants pocket.

Detectives tag one with ad

Another arrest came to fruition after a detective posted an ad on Craigslist in the section where women are looking for men. The ad was entitled “Trying this – w4m – 19 (Boston).” In it, detectives, again using the pseudonym “Ally Pie,” wrote “Im not one to writer a lot but … breaking up has become a weekly thing with me …”

At just past 4:11, the ad got a hit, allegedly from Hawes, something police were able to later confirm through a gmail address and a picture that he allegedly sent via email of a Mercedes he owned. A detective shared the corresponding email text with a female police officer who then called Hawes. Police allege that “Hawes told her that it normally costs $180.00 but not to worry about the money and that they could work something (out),” according to the arrest report.

Detectives again setup surveillance of the meeting area on High Street and other locations. While detectives were waiting, the female officer allegedly remained in contact with Hawes looking for his vehicle. He was later arrested during a traffic stop, according to the report.

During the processing of the Mercedes, police allegedly found several condoms, cut straws, and small, plastic baggies in his car. They also allegedly found a small scale and drug paraphernalia but no drugs.

“Due to the paraphernalia located in the vehicle, and Hawes’s previous statements about bringing and dealing with large amounts of cocaine, we requested a K9 search of the vehicle,” according to police.

A K9 unit from Boston was called in but no drugs were found during the search of the vehicle, according to the report.

According to police, Hawes agreed to speak about the incident but his comments were redacted from the report.