BERKS COUNTY, Pa. — A Lancaster County man was one of five people arrested following an undercover human trafficking operation.
On Jan. 29, members of the Berks County District Attorney's Human Trafficking Task Force conducted an operation to combat the illegal sex trade. Detectives posted ads on websites commonly used for sexual advertisements.
The defendants allegedly responded to the advertisements and agreed to meet and have sex with 14-15-year-old juveniles at undisclosed locations in Berks County for money. The individuals (named as follows) were arrested and charged without incident:
-Richard Keene, 70, from Reading
-Bail: $5,000
-Charges: Trafficking Individual, Statutory Sexual Assault, Unlawful Contact with Minor, Prostitution and Related Offenses, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
-Darvin B. Eby, 52, from Ephrata
-Bail: $50,000
-Charges: Trafficking Individual, Statutory Sexual Assault, Unlawful Contact with Minor, Prostitution and Related Offenses, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
-Adam Ismaili, 34, from West New York, NJ
-Bail: $50,000
-Charges: Trafficking Individual, Statutory Sexual Assault, Unlawful Contact with Minor, Prostitution and Related Offenses, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
-James E. Moon, 67, from Sinking Spring
-Bail: $10,000
-Charges: Trafficking Individual, Statutory Sexual Assault, Unlawful Contact with Minor, Prostitution and Related Offenses, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
-Percival R. Williams, 46, from Allentown
-Bail: $100,000
-Charges: Promoted Prostitution and Related Offenses, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
“The harsh reality is that human trafficking is happening in our community. Future perpetrators should take heed that the person they’re interacting with on these websites, could be a member of our Human Trafficking Task Force. And if caught, we will arrest and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” said District Attorney John T. Adams.
