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Peabody Police Raid Nets Drug, Sex Trafficking Arrests

PEABODY (CBS) -- A raid on a Dark Lane home shut down an alleged narcotics and sex trafficking operation, police said.

A neighbor says he saw several marked and unmarked police cruisers parked outside the house, while investigators spent a couple hours searching for evidence inside.

Six people were arrested when Peabody police officers executed a search warrant on the house.

David Fernandes, 23, of Roxbury, Nicole Marcellino, 31, of Medford, Judith Deandrade, 31, of Peabody, Jessica Marino, 28, of North Adams, and Meaghan Furey, 29, of Lynn, were all arrested for being present where heroin was kept. Dawn Spur, 48, of Peabody was charged with trafficking in persons for sexual servitude, being a keeper of a noisy and disorderly house, and possession of both class A and B drugs. Marcellino was also charged with sexual conduct for a fee, and Marino was also charged with possession of a class B drug.

Police said they believed the house to be "heavily involved" in narcotics and illegal sexual conduct for a fee.

The department said their Criminal Investigation Division was assisted by Salem Police Detectives and members of the F.B.I. Human Trafficking Division in a three-month investigation leading to the raid.

Police said the investigation resulted from several tips the department received via their MyPD app, a mobile phone app for anonymous tips that can be downloaded on the department's site.

"I am extremely pleased, once again, with the close contact the community has displayed in reaching out to members of our department in assisting with the riddance of such types despicable acts," said Peabody Police Chief Thomas M. Griffin. "This is proof that we have zero tolerance for any disruptive activities within our residential and business areas."

The six people who were arrested are expected to be arraigned Monday morning in Peabody District Court.

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