A New Jersey man who also runs a nonprofit out of Pennsylvania has been accused of sexually preying on women battling addiction, officials said.

Lawrence Arata, from Villas, New Jersey, is the executive director of the Opioid Crisis Action Network, an organization based in Upper Darby to provide financial support to those struggling with substance abuse. He founded the nonprofit in 2018 with his wife, Heather, shortly after their son died from a heroin overdose, according to its website.

On Wednesday, 65-year-old Arata was charged with 33 counts of trafficking, patronizing prostitutes, witness intimidation and obstruction of justice, police said. He is accused of using funds from his nonprofit to coerce sexual favors from women experiencing addiction, according to a statement from t

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