BOSTON, July 12, 2018—The Suffolk County Grand Jury has returned a 20-count indictment charging a Swampscott man with raping five women at gunpoint, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.

JOSEPH LOSANO, 52, was arrested today by Boston Police detectives following his indictment late yesterday on 12 counts of aggravated rape, six counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and single counts of rape and aggravated kidnapping. At his arraignment in Suffolk Superior Court this afternoon, Clerk Michelle Fentress imposed the $175,000 cash bail requested by prosecutors. Fentress further ordered him to surrender his passport and any firearms he may possess, stay away from the victims and out of the City of Boston, and remain on home confinement with GPS monitoring if he posts that amount.

Losano had previously been charged in Roxbury Municipal Court with two sexual assaults on women working as prostitutes in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard last year. He was held on $50,000 cash bail on May 16 but later posted that amount.

Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum, chief of Conley’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit, told the court that a total of five victims have now come forward as a result of the investigation by Boston Police and Suffolk prosecutors.

“These allegations are chilling,” Conley said. “They suggest a pattern of assaults on women who might be afraid or reluctant to disclose sexual violence to law enforcement. But no matter who you are, we’re here to help you. Any survivor of sexual assault will find a safe, respectful, and victim-centered environment in our office.”

The victims made photographic identifications of Losano as the man who picked them up under the guise of seeking sex for a fee but instead pulled a gun on them and forced them to engage in additional sexual conduct against their will. In one case, the assailant locked the doors and window of his vehicle so the victim could not escape. The victims’ descriptions were consistent as to appearance, demeanor, and vehicle – a white pickup truck similar to one owned by Losano.

Some of victims were driven to unknown locations believed to be outside of the city of Boston – possible in Waltham and Quincy – and driven back to Boston. Suffolk prosecutors charged all of the offenses under Chapter 265, Section 24A, of the Massachusetts General Laws, which allows for a consolidated prosecution of rape and certain other offenses if the victim “has been conveyed from one county or judicial district into another.”

Sexual assault can happen to anyone. While the victims of any crime are asked to call 911 in an emergency, survivors of sexual violence can also call their local rape crisis center for free and confidential services and to discuss their options. Support is available for all survivors of sexual violence, regardless of whether they wish to take part in a criminal prosecution. Services by city and town can be found at www.janedoe.org/find_help/search.

In Suffolk County, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center offers a free and confidential 24-hour hotline at 800-841-8371. The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center provides medical accompaniment and many other free services to victims of rape and sexual assault. Suffolk victim-witness advocates can assist in referrals to BARCC and a wide array of non-profit service providers who can offer additional support and services.

Anne Kelley-McCarthy is the DA’s assigned victim witness advocate. Losado was represented by Arnold Abelow. He returns to court on July 25.

–30–

All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.