Tampa Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer 92 Arrested in Polk County Prostitution Sting

Undercover detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 92 people after a four-day-long investigation that targeted online sites advertising for prostitution.

One of the suspects arrested is a 45-year-old youth minister from California that was in Orlando attending a youth ministry conference. Police allege he arrived at the undercover location under the notion that he was going to have sex with a 14-year-old girl.

A 21-year-old man on his honeymoon from Illinois was also busted in the sting. He was cuffed after allegedly showing up to the undercover spot after responding to an ad placed by an undercover detective posing as a prostitute. The man and his wife were staying at the Omni Hotel in Champions Gate. His wife reported him missing to police when he did not return to their hotel room.

Another man, 48, was arrested when he brought a 15-year-old girl to the undercover location as a prostitute.

Of the 92 suspects, 12 were arrested when they brought prostitutes to the undercover location, 39 suspects arrested were prostitutes, 39 suspects arrested were “johns” or those who wanted to pay for sex from prostitutes and 2 others were arrested after showing up to the meeting spot with other suspects, on separate charges such as battery and drug possession.

A total of 262 charges have been filed against those arrested.

If you were arrested for prostitution anywhere in Florida, you must contact a sex crimes defense lawyer as soon as possible following your arrest. The consequences of a prostitution conviction are no laughing matter, despite whether this is your first offense or not. A first-time conviction can result in up to 60 days in county jail. A second conviction can keep you behind bars for up to one year. A third or subsequent conviction for prostitution will be classified as a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. In addition to serious jail or prison time, a conviction for prostitution can leave a mark on your criminal record, which can blacken your name in the community and ruin personal and professional relationships, making it difficult to find a decent job in the future.

A Florida Prostitution Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton can investigate the validity of the charges against you and make sure that police followed proper protocol when conducting the undercover sex sting. Anytime a prostitution bust is carried out, there is always a possibility that you may be the victim of police misconduct or entrapment, both of which can be used to defeat the charges against you.

In order to achieve the most successful outcome possible for your unique situation, you must act fast. Contact a Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton today if you have been arrested for prostitution Florida. You can reach us 24/7 online or call us at 813-221-3200.