Four-Month Illinois Prostitution Bust Ends in 254 Arrests

According to a Cook County Sheriff's Department press release, a four-month prostitution bust across the county and in the city of Chicago resulted in the official arrests of 254 men and women. A large amount of those people had turned
Four-Month Illinois Prostitution Bust Ends in 254 Arrests
Cook County, IL
United States of America
 to the internet to advertise their prostitution services throughout the city and even the county.

The Cook County prostitution crackdown targeted both male customers and the female prostitutes themselves all over Cook County. The operation also branched out and targeted prostitutes who advertised on craigslist, a popular "for sale" website.

At the end of the four-month bust, 145 women and 49 men were charged with crimes involved with prostitution. The women were charged with street prostitution and the men with solicitation of a sex act. An additional 60 women were arrested for prostitution for advertising their sexual services on the craigslist website. Most ads on the site offered sexual acts in exchange for money. Two of the women were arrested twice in the operation.

Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said, "Some have argued that prostitution is a victimless crime...but in truth, prostitution victimizes entire communities by spreading disease, exploiting underprivileged women, destroying families, and driving down property values."

Most of the craigslist arrests came when the women posted ads with nude or semi-nude photos of themselves. Undercover police officers would contact the women on craigslist, pretending to be interested in their sexual services. The undercover police officers would then arrange to meet the women at various hotels throughout the County and the city of Chicago and as soon as the woman made an agreement for sexual acts for money, they were arrested by the officer. Some women even traveled from different parts of the country to meet up with the perspective customers. Most of the advertised prostitutes online charged between around $150 and $300 an hour for their services.

Related information
  • 254 people arrested.
  • Some women advertised on craigslist.
  • 49 men arrested.
 
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I also think the u.s. government is wasting money on this. What two consenting adults choose to do should be between them. Police should be there to make sure there isn't any robbery, cheating, violence or solicitation of minors. We've made sex bad and wrong, under emphasized communication skills and nutrition and we've developed perversions with this subject and many others. I can understand why europeans think americans, I mean u.s. citizens are so ignorant. It's time for a change and send those cops around the world so they can gain some perspective.

Posted on 03/09/2009 at 5:03:10 PM

So if prostitution is spreading disease...aren't hookups after the bar closes spreading disease too....or blind dates...or group dates...or one-nite stands with co-workers? Fornication should be a crime too if prositution is. Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said, "Some have argued that prostitution is a victimless crime...but in truth, prostitution victimizes entire communities by spreading disease, exploiting underprivileged women, destroying families, and driving down property values."

Posted on 02/22/2009 at 9:02:27 PM

i agree with you, this country pays people to do nothing with our tax money! no wonder were going down the toilet.

Posted on 09/14/2008 at 8:09:01 PM

Idiots... Why not go after the REAL criminals instead? Don't like the "erotic services" section on Craigslist? Then, um, DON'T READ IT! Once again, tax dollars well spent (NOT!). How very American.

Posted on 08/02/2007 at 12:08:00 PM

I've heard about prostitutes offering their services on Craigslist. Seems like a good way to get arrested.

Posted on 07/28/2007 at 12:07:00 AM

What is up with prostitution in Illinois? My family and I moved here a few years ago from another state and we are actually tired of hearing about prostitution in this state. It is amazing how bad it is and we don't live in Chicago! Amazing. Good Read!

Posted on 07/27/2007 at 1:07:00 PM

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