Dickson City man charged in drugs-for-sex sting
SCRANTON — A Dickson City man faces charges after he arranged to exchange methamphetamine for sexual services, police said.
On Monday, officers from the Scranton Police Street Crimes Unit launched an investigation into suspected drug and prostitution activities within Scranton, according to a criminal complaint.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers monitored activity on a website used to facilitate prostitution, which allows users to advertise using explicit descriptions and images of available sexual services, as well as payment methods and locations.
As part of the sting, an undercover officer posed as a 30-year-old female and was contacted by Zachary Davitt, 30, who agreed to meet at a designated location to exchange crystal methamphetamine in exchange for sexual activity.
Davitt, of 435 Main St., provided the undercover agent with a photo of himself and a phone number, indicating he wanted the undercover agent, whom he believed to be a prostitute, to call him.
Officers set up surveillance in the area where Davitt was to meet the confidential informant. A short time later, he arrived at the location via Uber.
As he was walking to the door of the agreed-upon meeting location, he was arrested.
He admitted he intended to trade meth for sex and told officers the drug was in his pocket.
Officers searched Davitt and a book bag he was carrying and found a plastic container holding a gram of crystal meth, a plastic bag containing 0.5 grams of meth, a clear glass pipe containing meth, a black iPhone used to call the informant, two condoms and cash.
Investigators called the phone number used to facilitate the transaction and Davitt's iPhone rang.
He is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, use of a cellphone to facilitate criminal activity and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remains at the Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on April 24 before District Judge Christopher J. Szewczyk.
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