Howard County police have charged a North Carolina man with human trafficking after discovering he was arranging prostitution dates for three adult female victims at an Elkridge hotel and taking their money.
Adolph Joseph Scott, 36, is charged with 25 counts of human trafficking, prostitution, drug distribution charges, and resisting arrest. Scott was in possession of suspected heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine in amounts indicative of distribution upon his arrest, and police located additional drugs in his hotel room. He is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center.
On Feb. 2, police received a tip about suspicious activity at a hotel in the 6700 block of Dorsey Road. Police located advertisements offering sexual services on a website known to be used for prostitution and determined that the advertised activity was taking place at the hotel.
Through investigation, police learned that Scott and the three victims, two of whom he transported from North Carolina, were staying in a room together at the hotel. He would arrange prostitution dates for them and keep most of the money. Scott allegedly controlled the victims by providing them drugs and threatening them.
Police arrested Scott outside of the hotel on Feb. 3. The victims were referred to HopeWorks for assistance.
Howard County has an ongoing effort to combat prostitution, human trafficking, and related offenses. Investigators are focused on arresting traffickers and offering assistance to victims through housing, treatment, transportation, and other services.
Detectives regularly monitor websites for prostitution ads and place their own ads from the police department with warnings not to engage in prostitution or human trafficking in Howard County.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have information about suspected human trafficking or prostitution to contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.
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