Ten Arrested in Berkshire County Child Exploitation Sting

03:13PM / Tuesday, April 15, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, MASS — Ten have been arrested on charges related to child exploitation following a two-week operation in Berkshire County.

The Berkshire State Police Detective Unit, assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, and the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force conducted the operation. According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, the operation involved law enforcement officers posing as 14 and 15-year-old girls on various online platforms.

The individuals allegedly communicated with these online personas and traveled to pre-arranged locations within Berkshire County, intending to exchange money for sexual activity with individuals under the age of 16, according to authorities.

"The utilization of grant funding and the dedicated work of our Law Enforcement Task Force allowed us to apprehend those looking to abuse our most vulnerable population, children. I want to especially thank the North Adams Police Department and Chief Bailey for their commitment to this operation," stated District Attorney Shugrue, "I also would like to recognize and thank Governor Healey in awarding grant funds that allowed our office to conduct investigations into human trafficking in our county. Sex trafficking is far more prevalent than most people realize. Through the Governor's support, we are able to devote resources to disrupt and apprehend criminals looking to exploit victims of human trafficking."

The following individuals have been arraigned in either Central Berkshire District Court or Great Barrington District Court:

Sydney Brodrick, 21 of Pittsfield, arraigned on April 1, 2025, faces the following charges:

Possession of Obscene Material
Distribution of Obscene Material

Brodrick is being held pending evaluation.

Ted Crosby, 56 of Pittsfield, was arraigned on April 7, 2025, and charged with:

Sexual Conduct for a Fee
Enticing a Child Under 16
Attempt to Commit a Crime
Pose/Exhibit a Child in a Sexual Act

Bail was set at $5,000.

Roger Prell, 67 of Pittsfield, was arraigned on April 10, 2025, and charged with:

Pay for Sexual Conduct with a Child Under 18
Obscene Matter to a Minor
Entice Child Under 16
Attempt to Commit a Crime

Prell was released on personal recognizance.

Dana Brookman, 31 of Pittsfield, was arraigned on April 14, 2025, and charged with:

Entice Child Under 16
Obscene Matter to a Minor
Attempt to Commit a Crime

Bail was set at $7,000.

Eduardo/Kevin Miranda Hernandez was arraigned on April 14, 2025, and charged with:

Enticement of a Child Under 16
Attempt to Commit a Crime
Procure Liquor for a Person Under 21

Bail was set at $5,000. Hernandez also has an active Connecticut warrant for strangulation.

Jonathan Kornbluth, 45 of Housatonic, was arraigned on April 14, 2025, and charged with:

Entice Child Under 16
Attempt to Commit a Crime
Drug Possession Class B

Bail was set at $5,000.

Forhad Chaudhury, 40 of Ronkonkoma, NY, was arraigned on April 14, 2025, and charged with:

Pay for Sexual Conduct with a Child Under 18
Entice Child Under 16
Attempt to Commit a Crime

Bail was set at $15,000.

Jean Arce, 39 of Westfield, was arraigned on April 14, 2025, and charged with:

Pay for Sexual Conduct with a Child Under 18
Entice Child Under 16
Attempt to Commit a Crime

Bail was set at $5,000.

Stevenson Clercidor had their case heard on April 15, 2025.

Dominick Boschetto, 31 of Brookfield, was arraigned on April 15, 2025, and charged with:

Sexual Conduct for a Fee
Enticement for Sex with a Child Under 16

Bail was set at $5,000.

Tags: district attorney, stings,

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Pittsfield Council Approves Rename of DEI Office

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:17AM / Friday, October 16, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After hours of testimony across multiple meetings, the City Council has approved a renaming of the DEI office.

Mayor Peter Marchetti's request to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion the "Office of Equity, Access and Opportunity" was approved on Tuesday.

This also merges the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an "Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission."

"Everything that I've done so far for being mayor, what it comes back to is, ‘Well, if you can solve poverty, you can solve all the rest of the problems.' Well, here's our opportunity to begin that process," Marchetti said.

"I'm really now regretting not asking the former city solicitors to get the job done, because I don't know that we'd be even having this conversation if this ordinance was put forward two years ago."

The meeting adjourned just before 10 p.m., when councilors would have needed to take a vote to extend it for an hour, a limit that was put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Basic facts about the Office of Equity, Access and Opportunity:

Upon adoption of the article, the chief diversity officer became the chief equity officer, and the budget and personnel of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion were assigned and transferred to the Office of Equity, Access and Opportunity.
The Office of Equity, Access and Opportunity will develop and implement policies, programs, and initiatives related to equity, access and opportunity.
The chief equity officer will:
- Outline equity and engagement objectives for the next year, opine and provide input on city ordinances, rules, and policies upon the request of the mayor, city council, or department head.
- Be responsible for posting information regarding equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination laws.
- Act as a liaison with employment sources and organizations serving protected groups.
- Share resources, reporting, and best practices with the Pittsfield Public Schools.
The chief equity officer will annually file a written progress report with the commission, mayor, and the City Council, indicating the progress toward achieving equity and engagement objectives.
Discrimination complaints can be filed with the chief equity officer or the director of human resources; the chief equity officer or mayor's designee will investigate the allegation.
This also established the "Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission."
One training per year is mandatory for all city employees.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August; in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection, wanting more data and proof of impact.

The rename passed on Tuesday with Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, Ward 3 Councilor Matthew Wrinn, and Cunningham in opposition. Fourteen community members took the open microphone stand to speak in support of DEI.

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