Man charged in prostitute attacks

Prosecutors say sexual assaults occurred at gunpoint

A Swampscott man charged with aggravated rape for pointing a gun at prostitutes and then sexually assaulting them was held on $50,000 bail yesterday, prosecutors said.

Joseph Losano, 51, was arraigned in Roxbury District Court on four counts of aggravated rape linked to two separate attacks last year, authorities said.

Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum told the court two women recently came forward to Boston police to report they were sexually assaulted on separate dates in 2017.

In both cases, a man fitting Losano’s description and driving a white pickup similar to the one Losano drove picked up a prostitute near Massachusetts Avenue and drove her to an unknown location outside of Boston, authorities said.

That’s when Losano forced, at gunpoint, in separate incidents, the women on a mattress in the bed of his pickup and sexually assaulted them, Polumbaum said.

“No one should ever feel reluctant or afraid to disclose a sexual assault,” Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said in a written statement. “No matter who you are, no matter what you do for work, no matter where you’re from or where you live, you can count on our support, respect and advocacy.”

In addition to being held on $50,000 bail, Losano was ordered to wear a GPS monitor if released. He’s banned from the city of Boston during the duration of his case and he was ordered to stay away from his alleged victims, prosecutors said.

Both women were able to identify Losano out of a photo lineup, authorities said. Prosecutors said they are investigating whether Losano may have been involved in similar attacks.

Authorities urged victims of sex assault to call 911, but also emphasized that victims contact their local rape and crisis centers for free and confidential treatment.

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