An Upper Nazareth Township man was one of seven men cited with patronizing a prostitute during the sting, according to the district attorney's office. They have preliminary hearings tentatively scheduled 10 a. July 26 in Krawitz's court. In the effort to catch johns, ads were placed online, the hotel room was wired for surveillance and initial contacts by phone were recorded, authorities said. Bell and Edwards brought a Tennessee woman they met through a dating website to the hotel and Bell pushed her into the room, the district attorney's office said.
The woman, who authorities say was the victim in a sex-trafficking scheme, said she agreed with the pair's offer to make money and had only known them for a few days when they drove her to Pennsylvania. She told an investigator posing as a john that she was five months pregnant and wanted to get home to family, according to court records. The woman was cared for by members of Truth Home, a nonprofit organization that "provides a safe living environment and works with women to restore hope after sexual exploitation," the district attorney's office said.
Bell later admitted to posting ads on backpage. Edwards traveled with Bell and the victim to "keep them safe" and to be there if "something goes wrong," Bell said, according to prosecutors. Charged with patronizing a prostitute were:. Charged with prostitution was:. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin lehighvalleylive.
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