PITTSFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – Ten people, including a police officer, have been arrested following a child predators sting operation in Berkshire County.
The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office said that authorities conducted a two-week investigation that was aimed at apprehending alleged child predators and it was established to “apprehend individuals engaging in criminal activities connected to human trafficking crimes.”
Auburn Police Officer Dominick Boschetto of Brookfield was placed on leave Monday after state police arrested him in connection to this horrifying operation.
Boschetto has been an officer with Auburn Police since March of 2023 and now, just over two years later, he was arrested at his place of work for crimes that his line of duty is supposed to protect the public from.
He’s arraigned on two charges including sexual conduct with a child under 18 for a fee and enticement of a child under 16.
Now according to the Auburn Police Department Boschetto was placed on administrative duty leave and his gun license was suspended.
Additionally, an internal affairs investigation is now underway.
Boschetto is pleading not guilty to all charges and has since posted five-thousand dollars bail and is just one of ten that have been arrested.
As part of the operation, investigators posed as 14-year-old and 15-year-old girls on different online platforms. The suspects “communicated with individuals whom they believed to be 14 and 15-year-old females and traveled to pre-arranged location in the Berkshires with the intent to pay money in exchange for sex with individuals under the age of 16,” the D.A.’s office explained.
As of Tuesday, ten people have been arrested and charged, including:
- Sydney Brodrick, 21, of Pittsfield: charged with possession of obscene material and distribution of obscene material. Arraigned on April 1 and held pending evaluation.
- Ted Crosby, 57, of Pittsfield: charged with sexual conduct for a fee, enticing a child under 16, attempt to commit a crime, and posing or exhibiting a child in a sexual act. Arraigned on April 7 and bail was set at $5,000.
- Roger Prell, 67, of Pittsfield: charged with paying for sexual conduct with a child under 18, obscene matter to minor, enticing a child under 16, and attempt to commit a crime. Arraigned on April 10 and released on personal recognizance.
- Dana Brookman, 31, or Pittsfield: charged with enticing a child under 16, obscene matter to minor, and attempt to commit a crime. Arraigned on April 14 and bail was set at $7,000.
- Eduardo/Kevin Miranda Hernandez: charged with enticement of a child under 16, attempt to commit a crime, and procuring liquor for person under 21. Arraigned on April 14 and bail was set at $5,000. The D.A.’s office added that Hernandez has an active warrant in Connecticut for strangulation.
- Jonathan Kornbluth, 45, of Housatonic: charged with enticing a child under 16, attempt to commit a crime, and drug possession (Class B). Arraigned on April 14 and bail was set at $5,000
- Forhad Chaudhury, 40, of Ronkonkoma, NY: charged with paying for sexual conduct with child under 18, enticing a child under 16, and attempt to commit a crime. Arraigned on April 14 and bail was set at $15,000.
- Jean Arce, 39, of Westfield: charged with paying for sexual conduct with child under 18, enticing a child under 16, and attempt to commit a crime. Arraigned on April 14 and bail was set at $5,000.
- Stevenson Clercidor: case was still being heard in court as of Tuesday afternoon.
- Dominick Boschetto, 31, of Brookfield: charged with sexual conduct for a fee and enticement for sex with a child under 16. Arraigned on April 15 and bail was set at $5,000.
“Sex trafficking is far more prevalent than most people realize. Through the Governor’s support, we are able to devote resources to disrupt and apprehend criminals looking to exploit victims of human trafficking,” said Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue in a statement.
In addition, an internal affairs investigation is underway.
Western Mass News will continue to bring you the latest information surrounding this investigation both on air and online, as soon as those details enter our newsroom.
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