Authorities say an undercover drug operation that lasted months in the East Valley resulted in a big prostitution bust involving BackPage.com.
According to Maricopa County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Brandon Jones, 51 suspects were arrested for crimes including prostitution, drug possession, identity theft, weapons charges, and attempted murder.
The operation ended this week.
MCSO detectives were initially checking out the Inn Suites Hotel near Guadalupe for alleged marijuana trafficking when they discovered the even bigger prostitution operation, Jones said.
Management and owners of the hotel were reportedly unaware of it.
MCSO started investigating further when a hotel guest admitted to detectives that he just left a room where he was with a prostitute, Jones said.
They discovered the prostitute’s information came from Backpage.com, a website owned and operated by the Phoenix-based Village Voice Media group, which also owns Phoenix New Times.
Jones said the prostitutes were advertising “escort services” on Backpage.com when they were seeking sex for money.
Undercover detectives set up meetings with women through Backpage.com along Interstate 10 and Baseline Road.
When the women asked for money in return for sex, they were arrested, Jones said.
MCSO also obtained $20,000 in cash and about 65 pounds of marijuana during the operation.
The following arrests were made, according to MCSO:
--Prostitution: 17 arrests
--Possession of marijuana and marijuana for sale: 9 arrests
--Possession of narcotic drugs: 3 arrests
--Possession of dangerous drugs: 3 arrests
--Identity theft: 2 arrests
--Misconduct Involving weapons: 1 arrest
--Control of criminal enterprise (pimps): 2 arrests
--Warrants: 4 arrests
--Prescription drug fraud: 4 arrests
--ICE hold: 1 arrest
--Assist/criminal street gang: 2 arrests
--Attempted murder: 1 arrest
--Probation violation: 1 arrest
--Driving on suspicion license: 1 arrest
VofReason posted at 12:31 pm on Thu, Sep 20, 2012.
Talk about shooting fish in a barrel. Maybe they can peak behind the curtain of some of those "message" establishments that line the seedier corners of town. I know this takes a little extra thought, but can anyone concieve that the prostitutes may not actually be in it for the celeberty status. Perhaps they have someone pulling their strings and getting physical when they don't play along. Ever thought that getting popped could actually mean freedom for some of these women. Or are we just piling on to Sheriff Joe?
truncate posted at 8:27 am on Thu, Sep 20, 2012.
Hey MCSO, how about going after some of those outstanding warrants...
Heywood_Jablome posted at 6:31 am on Thu, Sep 20, 2012.
Well, there's goes my plans for the weekend!
Leon Ceniceros posted at 7:20 pm on Wed, Sep 19, 2012.
NO.....SHERIFF JOE.........SAY IT AIN'T SO.............THE PHOENIX NEWD TIMES.....WHAT IS THES WORLD COMING TO.
Marc B posted at 7:18 pm on Wed, Sep 19, 2012.
Gee, wouldn't it be great if MCSO investigation the 300 or 400 child molestations in the west valley!!!!!!!!!
oh.........................sorry.......................they were Hispanic, weren't they????
Never mind
Juggernaut8000 posted at 2:31 pm on Wed, Sep 19, 2012.
What a waste of taxpayers' money. Prostitution is a victimless crime and doesn't harm anyone. Go round up the illegals now that the 'Papers Please' is now in effect and actually do the job you are paid to do.
Engaged Voter posted at 1:59 pm on Wed, Sep 19, 2012.
Great...our tax dollars being wasted on apprehending all those dangerous prostitutes and pot smokers.
Whatever happened to going after REAL criminals (the ones who leave VICTIMS in their wake)?
Speaking of which, has MCSO caught up on their sex crime investigations yet?