Substitute-teacher couple busted for prostitution to make extra money or ‘they’ll starve’ after cops pull off undercover operation

Two Tennessee elementary substitute teachers, who are also a couple, were cited for prostitution after police completed an undercover operation, with one saying they did it for extra money for several years or they’d “starve.”

Ezra Fry, 22, and David Acevedo, 25, who both work in Hamilton County Schools, were caught in August.

Police began the undercover sting when one officer reached out to Fry on “an illicit prostitution website” posing as a “john” looking to set up a sexual encounter, according to WTVC, citing a police report.

Fry, who uses they/them pronouns, responded by saying it would cost $150 and sharing what they would and wouldn’t do.

During the exchange, Fry allegedly told the undercover cop, they usually go to the client’s house but insisted it was safer to do it at their home because their husband would be present and it was “john’s” first time.

Fry then led the officer to a back bedroom and took his money before the cop identified himself and detained the couple.

Fry and Acevedo “both made statements during and after the search to include both stating that ‘they have to do this or they will starve,’ ” according to the report.

“Both parties advised officers that they are Special Education teachers at Woodmore Elementary and Calvin Donaldson Elementary. During an encounter with an officer, Fry stated, ‘I don’t care, everyone has seen my [private parts],’” the report added.

Police also discovered “a large amount of drug paraphernalia” and a .22 caliber rifle after searching the home.

Fry and Acevedo received several misdemeanor citations including for unlawful drug paraphernalia, prostitution or promoting prostitution and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Fry, who is employed by Education Management and Staffing Solutions (ESS) a company that sends staff to school districts, has not worked in a Hamilton County school since August, a spokesperson for the school district told WTVC.

Fry’s Instagram bio lists them as “Rabid Queer, Gender Anarchist, College Dropout,” while Acevedo’s account, which is private, lists him as a “Trans, Disabled, Queer, Puerto Rican, ExEd Teacher.”

Fry was under fire this year when she was reportedly subjected to claims of being a transgender female, working in an elementary school in the Hamilton County School system.

The claims arose after a photo of them standing in a school’s hallway wearing a dress and dyed pink hair made its rounds on social media.

“I’m a non-binary person, and I keep my gender out of my job,” Fry told the Chatanooga Times in April. “Obviously this whole thing has blown up because people think I am.”

ESS told Fry the day after the April incident, that a request was sent asking them to not return to that school.