Massachusetts

Ex-Marine Now Charged With Raping 5 Prostitutes at Gunpoint in Boston

What to Know

  • Joseph Losano, 52, of Swampscott, Mass., was indicted on 20 charges July 12 for allegedly sexually assaulting five prostitutes at gunpoint.
  • Losano, who was already accused of raping two women, was held on $175,000 cash bail following his arraignment.
  • Losano is facing numerous charges 12 counts of aggravated rape and six counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

A former Marine who was already accused of raping two women has now been indicted on 20 charges for allegedly sexually assaulting five prostitutes at gunpoint in Boston.

Joseph Losano, 52, of Swampscott, Massachusetts, was held on $175,000 cash bail following his arraignment Thursday in Suffolk Superior Court.

Losano is charged with 12 counts of aggravated rape, six counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and single counts of rape and aggravated kidnapping for assaults on five women working as prostitutes in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard in Boston, according to the Suffolk District Attorney's Office.

The judge ordered Losano to surrender his passport and any firearms he may possess, stay away from the victims and out of the city of Boston. He must also remain on home confinement with GPS monitoring if he is able to post bail.

Following Losano's arrest in May for allegedly raping two prostitutes at gunpoint in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, authorities said they expected more victims to come forward. He was allowed to stay behind closed doors in court because if more victims stepped forward, they would need to identify him.

“These allegations are chilling,” Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley said in court Thursday. “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.”

Prosecutors said Losano had picked up two different prostitutes on separate instances, taken them outside of the city and raped them at gunpoint in the bed of his truck before dropping them off and throwing money at them as he drove away.

Authorities said other victims were driven to unknown locations outside of the city, possibly in Waltham and Quincy.

It was also revealed in court that Losano, an honorably discharged Marine who has worked for 20 years as a security guard in retail stores, legally owns five firearms.

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