SPRINGFIELD — Three men from Connecticut and Massachusetts were arrested this week in two separate law enforcement operations aimed at curbing child exploitation and illegal prostitution in Springfield, according to a statement from the Springfield Police Department.
On Tuesday, June 24, members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, the Massachusetts State Police High Risk Victims Unit, and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department carried out an operation targeting individuals seeking to engage in commercial sexual exploitation of minors.
As part of the operation, law enforcement created an online profile posing as a juvenile escort. Authorities allege that 49-year-old Peter Chang of Enfield, Connecticut, and 34-year-old Vaughn Davis of West Springfield contacted the undercover officer and arranged to meet at a local hotel. When the men arrived at the hotel, they were taken into custody.
Both Chang and Davis were charged with:
- Pay for Sexual Conduct with a Child under 18
- Enticement of a Child under 16
- Attempt to Commit a Crime
A day later, on Wednesday, June 25, Springfield police and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department launched a second operation in the city’s South End neighborhood. Officers focused on deterring prostitution, human trafficking, and related quality-of-life concerns.
At around 1:15 p.m., investigators observed a woman loitering in the area engage in a brief conversation with a man before getting into his vehicle. Officers conducted mobile surveillance and later initiated a traffic stop on Sumner Terrace.
The driver, identified as 42-year-old Luis Negron of Naugatuck, Connecticut, was arrested and charged with:
- Pay for Sexual Conduct