Executive Summary
- Allen Lozada, 34, was arrested on multiple charges including human trafficking, coercion, and assault.
- Authorities allege the suspect used drug addiction and physical violence to control victims.
- The investigation involved cooperation between East Hartford Police and the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force.
- Lozada is held on a $1 million bond with a court appearance scheduled for January 29.
HARTFORD, Conn. – A Hartford man faces significant felony charges, including human trafficking and coercion, following an investigation alleging he operated a commercial sex ring that exploited women suffering from drug addiction. Allen Lozada, 34, was taken into custody on December 29 and charged with three counts of trafficking in persons, three counts of coercion, two counts of second-degree assault, and one count of second-degree criminal mischief, according to Connecticut State Police.
The arrest stems from a collaborative inquiry involving the East Hartford Police Department and the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force. Authorities report that the investigation commenced in February 2024 after police responded to suspicious activity at a residence on Phelps Street in East Hartford. Investigators allege Lozada utilized this location, as well as a home in Chester, to facilitate both narcotics distribution and human trafficking. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the owners of these properties were indebted to Lozada for drugs, allowing him to use their homes for his operations.
Court documents detail allegations that Lozada controlled as many as six women at a time, leveraging their dependencies on fentanyl to coerce them into prostitution. Witnesses and alleged victims told police that proceeds from sexual services—often arranged via online platforms such as "Skip the Games"—were immediately transferred to Lozada via Cash App. The affidavit states that transactions typically ranged between $150 and $250. One cooperating witness stated that Lozada moved operations to Chester after suspecting federal authorities were monitoring the East Hartford location.
The warrant affidavit describes a pattern of violent control and physical abuse. One woman alleged she was subjected to cigarette burns that left permanent scarring and described instances where Lozada held a large knife to her neck. Another account in the court filings claims Lozada severely beat a woman over a $7 debt, resulting in her hospitalization. Electronic evidence recovered from seized devices allegedly corroborates these accounts, containing threatening text messages and records of Lozada maintaining strict oversight of the women’s movements and finances.
Judicial Status and Prosecutorial Outlook
Lozada was arraigned in Hartford Superior Court and remains in custody in lieu of a $1 million bond. He is scheduled to return to court on January 29. The severity of the bond reflects the gravity of the allegations, particularly the combination of narcotics distribution and violent exploitation described by law enforcement. As the judicial process moves forward, the prosecution is expected to present the digital forensic evidence and witness testimonies gathered during the year-long investigation. It is important to note that all individuals, including Lozada, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
