Tampa Escorts: Operation Hot Date nets 34 arrests
September 17, 2009The Polk Sheriff County Sheriff’s Office launched a sting over the weekend called Operation Hot Date. Undercover detectives arrested 34 people, including alleged prostitutes and their pimps who were advertising on Craigslist. They came to Polk from Tampa, Orlando, and out the state.
At a press conference on Monday, Sheriff Grady Judd called Craigslist a one-stop shop for all your prostitution needs.
“This is a public health issue. We know historically that prostitutes spread HIV and AIDS,” Judd said.
Undercover detectives said the women negotiated prices for sex acts and agreed to come to a location in Polk.
Recently, Craigslist said that it’s tightening its rules on ads with sexual content. In May, site administrators vowed to review submission more closely and replaced the erotic services category with an adult category.
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Four men were arrested. Detectives said John Frese is a pimp and came from Lakeland to get his share of the profits. Devon Chambers is also charged.