Police join with three Hagerstown health agencies to crack down on sex trafficking

Dave McMillion, The Herald-Mail
Updated ·4 min read

Editor's note: This story was updated at 11:57 a.m. Aug. 29, 2023, to include more details.

Four people, including two Hagerstown residents, have been charged after several local agencies joined last week to target child sex predators and prostitution operations.

The charges came after the Washington County Sheriff's Office joined with the Washington County Health Department, the Washington County Department of Social Services Child Advocacy Center and the Meritus Forensic Nursing Program to investigate sex trafficking.

Sex trafficking has been identified as an ongoing challenge for the Hagerstown area.

Last week's probe focused on two areas, including internet-based chats by people seeking to have sex with children, according to a sheriff's office news release.

Authorities identified offenders using undercover law enforcement officers and social media platforms, according to the release.

"Throughout the operation, multiple internet-based contacts and in-person meet ups were made or attempted. Ultimately, two adults were arrested and charged with solicitation of a minor," according to the release.

Arrested were:

  • Raquan Tyreek Martin, 23, of Hagerstown

  • Peter John Eleftheriou, 41, of Perry Hall, Maryland

In the operations targeting prostitution, team members attempted to set up meetings with those exploiting sex workers.

Previously: Teen sex trafficking case involves transmission of images, videos and area hotel meet-ups

"Those prostitutes who were contacted, (who) were cooperative, and had no other underlying offenses, were turned over to the care of the Washington County Health Department, Meritus Forensic Nursing Program, and Department of Social Services Human Trafficking Regional Navigator, for diversion, (sexually transmitted disease) testing, and other community-based resources," according to the release.

Arrested in that operation were:

  • Dadeja Lynn Fuller, 29, of Hagerstown. Fuller had active warrants and was in possession of suspected cocaine, according to police. Fuller is also facing a charge of prostitution, according to online court records.

  • Richard Glenwood Frazier, 46, of Greencastle, Pa. Frazier was charged with sex trafficking. He also is known as Richard Glenwood Frazier II.

Frazier was charged after detectives met a prostitute at a Hagerstown-area hotel on Aug. 24, according to charging documents. The detectives used a texting application to chat with a woman from an online ad, with the woman agreeing to provide sexual services to two people for $400.

The woman told detectives a male named Tae, who turned out to be Frazier, gave her a ride to the hotel and that she gave him "differing amounts of money" every time he provided her a ride to a site where she performed sexual favors to people for money, charging documents state. She did not use the word "pimp," but also allegedly told police that Tae provided physical protection for her.

Police found Frazier in a car in the hotel parking lot and arrested him.

With the woman's consent, police reviewed her cellphone and saw Frazier was "controlling the conversations and meet-ups" the woman had for prostitution, charging documents state.

Frazier faces up to 10 years in state prison on the misdemeanor sex trafficking charge for allegedly taking the woman to the hotel for prostitution.

The team thanked a number of individuals for their help and their "unwavering support" to protect county residents. They included Vicki Sterling, director of behavioral health services for the health department, Andrea Barton of the health department, Rachel Mazloum and Natalie Reed of the Washington County Department of Social Services Child Advocacy Center, Jennifer McNew and the staff of the Meritus Forensic Nursing Program, and Kevin Lewis and Andrew Wood of the Washington County Division of Emergency Services.

"Washington County would be much less safe without your dedication to helping the vulnerable members of our community," the release said.

Why is Washington County a sex-trafficking hotspot?

Washington County is known as a sex trafficking hub for minors and adults, according to an in-depth story examining the problem that was published by The Herald-Mail last September.

More: How can Washington County address sex trafficking? Local residents learn how to take action

Authorities said the county is a "unique sweet spot" for sex trafficking because the intersection of Interstates 81 and 70 here allows meet-ups to be easily arranged and for the participants to get out of the area quickly.

In a local sex trafficking case earlier this year, a West Virginia woman has pleaded guilty in a case that involved creation of sexually-explicit videos and photographs of teenage girls for cash and lining them up for sex with men at Hagerstown area hotels, according to federal authorities.

Regarding one of the men who was investigated, a license plate reader detected that a plate belonging to him was in the area of hotels close to the Valley Mall 28 times from January 2021 to December 2022, according to an FBI agent.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Sex trafficking charges lodged against four in organized sting