Police Bust Prostitution Ring on Route 1

Howard County Police have arrested and charged eight men for soliciting prostitution along Route 1 in North Laurel, officials announced today.

The arrests were the latest in the police department’s ongoing operation to eliminate prostitution along the Route 1 corridor. Howard County Police are continuing to utilize reverse prostitution to catch solicitors, they said.

Police used female officers in plain clothes who worked undercover in areas targeted by citizen complaints. Suspects who approached the female officers and made such money offers were arrested, according to a press release.

In total, eight men were arrested in charged, according to Howard County Police. Those charges include:

Jose Alexis Rojas-Garcia, 23, of Laurel

Enrique Andres Merino, 49, of Silver Spring

Carlos A Arevalo-Iraheta, 31, of Silver Spring

Jorge Carlos Lopez-Bustillos, 32, of Columbia

Ruben Avina-Mata, 23, of Charles City, Virginia

Aashishkumar Shashikant Patel, 37, of Takoma Park

Prince Albert Warner Jr., 51, of Germantown

Keshram Sukhram, 35, of Rockville

Howard County Police encouraged citizens to continue to report suspicious activity by calling call 410-313-STOP with tips or information. Callers may remain anonymous.