WALTHAM, MA —Thanks to the Waltham Police department, a state-wide sex trafficking and money laundering ring have has been busted. Ten people were indicted recently in connection with an operation in which women were sold for sex around the state, including in Newton and Waltham through an online "escort" service that was a front for human trafficking, Attorney General Maura Healey announced Friday.

The AG's office began an investigation the ring in September 2016 after the Waltham Police Department referred the situation to the government body. The AG's investigation revealed that two New Hampshire women going by the names of "Chloe" and "Red" ran an organized and sophisticated criminal ring from their home offices in New Hampshire.

They allegedly advertised and provided "escort" services in the Northeast, primarily in Massachusetts, but also in New Hampshire and New York, through their website, chloescompanions.com, which was set up as a front to facilitate commercial sexual activity.

Authorities allege that about 12 to 15 women were trafficked using this website at any given time. The website provided profiles of the women and a calendar for available dates and locations for each woman. The AG's Office obtained a court order to have the website taken down and it has since been removed. Sonya Palic (a.k.a. Chloe), 46, of Manchester, and Charlotte Napolitano (a.k.a. Red), 46, of Bedford allegedly arranged for women to meet with men, either for "in-calls" or "out-calls" at hotels, to provide commercial sexual services in exchange for cash.

Women were allegedly trafficked in local cities and towns including Boston, Braintree, Lexington, Newton and Waltham. Further investigation revealed that Richard Napolitano, who is Charlotte's husband, along with Eric Peltak, 44, of Manchester, Caleb Gerry,23, of Gardner, NH and Anthony DiDomizio, 52, of Manchester allegedly transported women to these encounters and helped to collect and transport money involved in this trafficking operation. Authorities allege that the majority of the money from these encounters went to "Chloe" and "Red" and Palic laundered money through businesses to perpetuate the daily operations of the criminal enterprise.

Four others helped to launder the money. Authorities allege that these four paid Palic for sex and one allegedly paid her for sex through his company's payroll checks.

These charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Through the Human Trafficking Division, the AG's Office has charged more than 35 individuals in connection with human trafficking since a law regarding it went into effect in 2012. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Waltham Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)