SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Police charged thirteen individuals in connection with a human trafficking investigation in South Portland during the week of April 24.
The operation covered multiple jurisdictions and included "local and federal partners from Cumberland County Human Trafficking Task Force and included South Portland Police Community Response Unit," according to a news release from the South Portland Police Department.
One human trafficking victim was reportedly identified and offered resources as a result of the investigation.
The thirteen men charged include:
- Garrin Brady, 41, of Windham
- Ian Hunter, 39, of Brunswick
- Travis LaBreck, 46, of South Portland
- Anthony Deluca, 34, of Sanford
- James Wagner, 58, of Charleston, Massachusetts
- Yousef Akbari Panbehcholeh, 37, of Westbrook
- Almuntadhar Mohammed, 23, of Portland
- Mark Saul, 54, of Winslow
- Shane Churchill, 47, of Portland
- William Edwards, 55, of Stratham
- Jeffery Gagne, 53, of Brownfield
- Leon Brilliant, 48, of Brunswick
- John Bearse, 21, of Springvale
All were charged with engaging a prostitute, the release said. Panbehcholeh was additionally charged with violation of conditions of release.
"The issue of human trafficking has no jurisdiction and has been recognized as a national epidemic," police said in the release. "This operation was specifically designed to target multiple facets of human trafficking to include both the “supply” and “demand” to better prevent ongoing victimization of those most affected by this widespread issue."
