By: Laura Soukkavong
A Methuen man was arraigned March 16 following his arrest during a joint undercover investigation targeting the commercial sexual exploitation of minors in Worcester.
According to authorities, on March 13, the Worcester Police Department’s Special Crimes Unit and Cyber Crimes Unit, working alongside Homeland Security, conducted an undercover operation focused on sex trafficking offenses.
As a result of the investigation, police arrested Wilmer Villa, 28, of Methuen. He is charged with:
- Enticing a child under 16
- Paying for sexual conduct with a child under 18
- Trafficking a person under 18 for sexual servitude
Villa was ordered held on $100,000 surety bail or $10,000 cash bail. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for April 14.
Villa is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.