The executive director of the Opioid Crisis Action Network (OCAN) has been charged with trafficking, according to Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. Lawrence Arata is charged with 33 criminal counts, including trafficking in individuals, patronizing prostitutes, witness intimidation, and obstruction of justice.
The district attorney said that Arata used funds received from Delaware County Government and the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust to sexually prey on women suffering from opioid addiction.
“We also believe that there may be more victims of Mr. Arata’s predator behavior. I would encourage anyone with more information to contact my Office or reach out to the Victim’s Assistance Center of Delaware County to have your voice heard,” said Stollsteimer in a press release. “Our investigation concluded that Larry Arata cynically and cruelly misused those funds as leverage to satisfy his sexual desires.”
The charges come after a joint investigation by Upper Darby Township Police and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division in response to allegations brought to law enforcement by victims of Mr. Arata and women who support them in the recovery community.
Arata turned himself in to law enforcement on Nov. 19, Judge David R. Griffin, and was released on $500,000 bail.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the investigation began in the early part of August when one witness, a former employee and program director of OCAN, said Arata would rent a hotel room at the Best Western in Chester. The witness said she noticed Arata acting inappropriately with clientele, with some coming forward, telling the witness that Arata would ask them to come to the motel, where he would kiss and touch them, and offer them money.
One of the victims told police in October that she had two sexual encounters with Arata, both involving coercion for the exchange of OCAN resources.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
