A Wyoming County man faces charges after police said he arranged to exchange methamphetamine for sexual services at a Scranton hotel.
On Monday, investigators from the Scranton Police Street Crimes Unit and Lackawanna County district attorney’s office launched an investigation into suspected prostitution activities within Scranton, according to a criminal complaint.
As investigators were monitoring activity occurring on a website used for facilitating prostitution — which allows users to post advertisements that include explicit descriptions and images related to sexual services they’re willing to provide, as well as details about payment methods and locations — an undercover officer posing as a prostitute was contacted by Jason Wood, police said.
Wood agreed to meet the investigator at a hotel on Meadow Avenue where he would exchange methamphetamine for sexual services, per the criminal complaint.
Wood (Courtesy Lackawanna County Central Processing)
Investigators set up surveillance and witnessed Wood approach the hotel in a Jeep, officers said. Wood also texted the undercover officer that he arrived, per the criminal complaint.
Wood admitted going to the hotel to meet a woman and that he intended to exchange methamphetamine for sexual services, officers said.
Wood also told officers the drugs were in his vehicle and that he “gifts” people methamphetamine every other day, police said.
Officers found approximately five grams of crystal methamphetamine inside Wood’s vehicle, per the criminal complaint.
Police charged Wood, 43, with criminal use of a communications facility, criminal attempt, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, patronizing a prostitute, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
As of Tuesday, Wood, 177 Island Road, Noxen, remained in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Jan. 23 at 9:15 a.m.