Tonight, the paperwork is complete and the numbers are in, for arrests from a major multi-county sex crimes task force. A law enforcement operation to catch prostitutes, who use popular websites to advertise services, netted 55 arrests. Operation S.T.O.P. - Stop The Online Prostitution - is a Central Florida law enforcement initiative to combat prostitution. This operation started midway last week and continued through Saturday. S.T.O.P. marks the first time for an operation with multi-jurisdictions going after sex crimes at the same time. The motivation behind S.T.O.P. is the recent increase of online prostitution services.
Twelve drug/vice task forces, from every corner of Central Florida, set up S.T.O.P. operations at various locations. Calls were made, by detectives, to phone numbers advertised online. A “date” was set. And law enforcement undercover procedures were initiated. When the suspect agreed to sex for pay – an arrest was made.
Here’s the breakdown from the seven task forces, which participated:
MADET Ocala/Marion County – 14 arrests
MBI/Orange County Sheriff’s Office/Orlando- 14 arrests
Osceola County Sheriff’s Office – 12 arrests
East Volusia Narcotics Task Force – 6 arrests
Sumter County Sheriff’s Office – 6 arrests
Alachua County Sheriff’s Office – 2 arrests
Citrus County Sheriff’s Department – 1 arrest
It is important to contact your local law enforcement agency to get photos and public record reports on each suspect.
MADET Ocala/Marion County _ call Judge Cochran: (352) 368-3594
MBI/Orange County Sheriff’s Office/Orlando _ call Sgt. Samuel Riggi, Jr.: (407) 836-9756
Osceola County Sheriff’s Office _ call Twis Lizasuain: (407) 348-1100
East Volusia Narcotics Task Force _ call Gary Davidson: (386) 736-5989
Sumter County Sheriff’s Office _ call Lt. Donald Knee: (352) 303-0075
Alachua County Sheriff’s Office _ call Sgt. Karyn O'Quinn: (352) 334-2431
Citrus County Sheriff’s Department _ call Gail Tierney: (352) 341-7460
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