3 Men Arrested In Sex Trafficking Sting: Portsmouth Police

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Three people were arrested in Portsmouth after a sting operation targeting sex trafficking, police said Monday.

Portsmouth police said two of them men arrested were involved in targeting children for sex.

On Friday, police said they first arrested Duarte Arruda, 61, of Fall River, Massachusetts, and Lee Berry, 41, of Delray Beach, Florida. According to police, their arrests stemmed from an undercover operation aim at identifying people using websites to meet with children for sex acts.

Police said Arruda and Berry traveled to Portsmouth to engage in sex acts with a child. Both men were charged with patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity and indecent solicitation of a minor.

Police said the third man was arrested during the sting operation after he tried to pay for sex with an adult. Officers identified the man as Damon Teixeira, 31, of Fall River. He was charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee (first offense).

Arruda and Berry are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Newport County District Court. Teixeira is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 1.

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