Accused Woburn Drug Trafficker Faces New Charges

WOBURN, MA — The Woburn man who was arrested with his wife on multiple drug charges after police executed a search warrant in February was arraigned June 28 on human trafficking charges. Michael Nelson, 51, of Woburn, was charged trafficking of a person for sexual servitude, deriving support from prostitution, and being a habitual criminal. He was released on $1,000 bail and ordered to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet and not have contact with the victim.

Prosecutors say that between Nov. 22 and Jan. 30, Nelson arranged for his victim to meet men who paid for sex in area hotels "on multiple occasions." He also had the woman post ads on Websites that advertise sex services for a fee. Nelson then collected the money the woman collected from the men.

In February, Nelson and his wife Shirley, 44, of Woburn, were arrested after police executed a search warrant and found 198.5 grams of cocaine, 130 Fentanyl pills, 137 amphetamine pills, 25 oxycodone pills and other drugs, as well as Michael Nelson's car, $4,424 in cash and drug packaging materials.

Michael Nelson, according to police, was charged with trafficking fentanyl, trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and amphetamines, and possession with intent to distribute various class E substances. Shirley Nelson was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute various class E substances.

Nelson works in car sales. In 2008, he was charged arrested in Waltham and charged with fraudulent use of a credit card.