A Marblehead man was among 10 people indicted in connection with a sex trafficking and money laundering operation in which women were sold for sex through a purported online escort service that was a front for human trafficking.
Charles Cook, 65, of Marblehead, was indicted by a statewide grand jury Thursday on charges of conspiracy to traffic persons for sexual servitude, conspiracy to launder money, and sex for a fee, according to a release from state Attorney General Maura Healey. He will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court at a later date.
In September 2016, the attorney general’s office began an investigation into an escort service in the Northeast they it claims was run by Sonya Palic (a.k.a. Chloe), age 46, of Manchester, N.H.; and Charlotte Napolitano (a.k.a. Red), age 46, of Bedford, N.H.
They allegedly advertised and provided “escort” services in the Northeast, primarily in Massachusetts, but also in New Hampshire and New York, through their website, chloescompanions.com, which was set up as a front to facilitate commercial sexual activity. Authorities allege that about 12 to 15 women were trafficked using this website at any given time.
The website provided profiles of the women and a calendar for available dates and locations for each woman. The attorney general’s office obtained a court order to have the website taken down and it has since been removed.
Further investigation by the attorney general’s office revealed that Cook and three others helped launder the money. It’s further alleged that all four paid Palic for sex.
Palic will be arraigned at future dates in Suffolk, Middlesex, and Norfolk Superior courts. She faces 19 counts of trafficking persons for sexual servitude, 19 counts of deriving support for prostitution, four counts of money laundering, three counts of conspiracy to traffic persons for sexual servitude, and four counts of conspiracy to launder money.
Napolitano will be arraigned at future dates in Suffolk, Middlesex, and Norfolk Superior courts on 19 counts of trafficking persons for sexual servitude, 19 counts of deriving support from prostitution, and three counts of conspiracy to traffic persons for sexual servitude.
Charges against the other seven defendants include conspiracy to traffic persons for sexual servitude, conspiracy to launder money, and sex for a fee.
