Under the direction of the Massachusetts State Police High Risk Victim Unit, seven men were arrested in Holyoke, Massachusetts for allegedly soliciting sex for a fee as part of an operation targeting human trafficking in the city. The arrestees are Guy Flathers, 72; Joseph Fournier, 61; Christopher Laines, 34; Jorge Lopez, 49; Josue Ortiz, 29; Jose Santiago, 68; and Sarom Soeng, 47.
In a Facebook post, Holyoke police stated that they would continue to conduct these operations in order to combate the demand for sexual exploitation in the city. This operation is a testament to the commitment of the Holyoke Police Department to protect the vulnerable members of our community. Human trafficking is a serious crime that has devastating consequences for its victims. We urge anyone who suspects that someone is being trafficked to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
