Six arraigned in wake of prostitution sting

Six people were arraigned in Lowell District Court yesterday in connection with a prostitution sting Sunday night by local police.

Giovani Frizzo, 42, of Salisbury; Aenoi Khamphilavanh, 36, of Lowell; Ken Rath, 38, of Lynn; and Sangam Dash, 39, of Burlington each pleaded not guilty to soliciting a prostitute. Khamphilavanh also had two prior arraignments for the same offense, police said.

Jennifer Edgecomb, 36, and Crystal Andrade, 34, both of Lowell, pleaded not guilty to common nightwalking.

All six were released on their own recognizance a day after detectives conducted a “reverse sting” in the city’s Lower Highlands section in response to “numerous” complaints about men soliciting prostitutes there, according to police.

Each of the male defendants is accused of soliciting sex from an undercover officer posing as a prostitute in the Westford Street area, police said.

Each of the female defendants is accused of approaching a male undercover officer — also in the Westford Street area — who offered her money in exchange for sex, police said.

In Edgecomb’s case, police said, she backed away from the unmarked car he was in and said, “Oh, wait. Is this a black Honda?” Then she walked away, saying, “Nice try, detective,” police said.

Edgecomb was arrested after she went back to Westford Street and began walking inbound, looking at passing drivers, police said.

Andrade also became suspicious of the undercover officer she allegedly approached. She later got into a car that was going in the wrong direction on Howard Street, police said.

When officers stopped the vehicle, the driver told them he hadn’t yet discussed a price, police said, but she was arrested, while he was allowed to leave.