Three men charged in Portsmouth sex trafficking sting

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (WLNE) — Three men have been charged in a sex trafficking sting operation executed by the Portsmouth Police Detective Division and Homeland Security Investigations.

Two of the defendants are accused of traveling to a location in Portsmouth to engage in sexual activity with a minor, while a third defendant is accused of attempting to engage in commercial sexual activity with an adult.

All were arrested on July 19.

Duarte M. Arruda, 61, of Fall River, is charged with one count of patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity and one count of indecent solicitation of a minor.

Lee Berry, 41, of Delray Beach, FL, is charged with one count of a patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity and one count of solicitation of a minor.

Damon A. Teixeira, 31, of Fall River, is charged with one count of procurement of sexual conduct for a fee, first offense.

Arruda and Berry were arraigned by a Justice of the Peace and will appear in Newport District Court on July 25 for their formal arraignments.

Teixeira was processed and released with a District Court Summons to appear in Newport County District Court on August 1.