A New Jersey man was convicted this week of all counts regarding a human trafficking ring he operated last year involving two women and numerous hotels in Lancaster County.
A Lancaster County jury on Wednesday afternoon convicted 37-year-old Dominic Roach of 18 counts, following a three-day trial.
The jury determined Roach trafficked two women, from New Jersey, to Lancaster County where they performed sex acts for money – with Roach profiting from the payments.
Also, Roach provided the two victims with controlled substances, and a portion of the profits, so they would continue working for him.
It was the first trial in Lancaster County on charges of trafficking in individuals and involuntary servitude, according to Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield, who won the conviction.
Roach will be sentenced on the 15 felonies and three misdemeanors on Nov. 20.
Lancaster County Judge Donald Totaro, who presided over the trial, will order sentence. At the verdict, Judge Totaro raised Roach’s bail from $200,000 to $1 million, which was not posted.
Mansfield presented testimony from police, personnel at a hotel, and an individual with information about the operation. Also, the jury saw text-message exchanges involving Roach which outlined some of the conduct.
The jury deliberated for about an hour and 45 minutes before deciding the case Wednesday at 1:15 p.m.
Among the evidence presented:
- At least seven hotels on and around Route 30 (Lincoln Highway East) were utilized in the operation.
- Those room rentals totaled over $26,000.
- A vehicle was rented weekly so Roach could travel from New Jersey to Lancaster County to collect the payments.
- Roach received half of the payments, and he made the women pay half of the hotel fees and for the drugs he supplied them.
- When Roach was arrested, he had $1,073 cash and a credit card belonging to one of the victims.
Roach did not testify.
East Lampeter Township police Detective Christopher Jones filed charges and testified several times at trial.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright