Operation Sex Payola
Hookers & Johns United in Jail Instead of Alleys of Great Mills Road
Detectives from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations Investigative and Narcotics Divisions, assisted by patrol officers from St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police, Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division and St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division conducted a sting operation in Lexington Park. The operation was two (2) phases with the first phase focusing on the local prostitutes.

         During the initial phase an undercover officer posing as a “John” was approached by Suspect Sheila Christine Vernon (Age 36 of no fixed address) and the suspect offered sexual favors for a specific amount of money. She was arrested for prostitution without incident.

         The same undercover officer was approached by  Suspect Patricia Louise Tippett (Age 27 of Lexington Park) and she to offered sexual favors for a specific amount of money and was arrested for prostitution without incident.

         The second phase of the operation was to replace the arrested and displaced prostitutes with undercover Law Enforcement Officers. The following suspects were arrested during phase two.

1-Joshua Esequiel Atencio (Age 24 of Manassas Virginia) One Count of Solicitation 

2-James Rudolf Price (Age 18 of Callaway, Maryland) One Count of Solicitation 

3-Christopher Joseph Swann (Age 23 of Lexington Park, Md) One Count of Solicitation 

4-Galyx Huston Lamaster (Age 26 of Lusby, Maryland) One Count of Solicitation 

5-Raymond Lionel Jones (Age 48 of Leonardtown, Md.) One Count of Solicitation 

6-Patrick Alfonzo Gayle (Age 18 of Lexington Park, Md) One Count of Solicitation 

7-Brian S. McCain ( Age 35 of Washington D.C.) One Count of Solicitation 

8-Micahel Dominic Desarno (Age 33 of Lusby, Maryland)   One Count of Solicitation 

9-Joseph Ellsworth Young (Age 55 of Waldorf, Maryland) One Count of Solicitation 

10-James Abraham Adams (Age 44 of Mechanicsville, Md.) One Count of Solicitation 

         As phase two began, Suspect Donato Rivera Reyes (Age 33 of Lexington Park, Md) began alerting potential “Johns” that the undercover officers were Police. As Detectives approached the suspect he was advised he was under arrest and a struggle ensued. He was placed under arrest and charged with one count of hindering and one count of resisting arrest.

         Suspect Anthony Lee Lindsay approached the undercover officers and began questioning them on who they were and shouting profanities. Officers responded and told Suspect Lindsay to leave the area. He originally agreed and then stopped to yell and scream threats. It caused a disruption in the operation and vehicles and persons watched his disorderly actions. He was intoxicated and was placed under arrest. 

        Suspect Kevin Vincent Bonds offered one of the undercover officers crack cocaine for $40.00. The undercover officer purchased the crack cocaine and Suspect Bonds was stopped on a bicycle by officers and resisted their arrest. He attempted to flee but was apprehended and placed under arrest. Further check of the cocaine found it to be a fake. Suspect Bonds was charged with distribution of a non controlled substance and resisting arrest.