Newark New Jersey authorities recently arrested 10 people on prostitution-related charges after an undercover sting proved successful.
The arrests were made in the South Ward of Newark, NJ. Several Newark police officers went undercover and posed as prostitutes. A number of other police officers conducted surveillance and allegedly observed the suspects soliciting sexual services from the undercover cops.
The Newark Police Department decided to conduct the investigation after receiving multiple complaints from residents in the area who were concerned about the presence of prostitutes around Frelinghuysen Avenue.
After the solicitation suspects were placed under arrest, Newark NJ police arranged to have their motor vehicles towed from the area.
All of the suspects have been charged with solicitation.
Most of the suspects live in or around Newark, New Jersey. Three suspects live in Newark, while the other suspects come from Kearney, Edinburg, Harrison, Lake Hiawatha, Carteret, Flemington, and Maplewood.
If any of the suspects are convicted on the very serious sex crime charges of solicitation, they could face significant penalties. Solicitation is classified as a disorderly persons offense in New Jersey, which means that an offender could be sentenced to up to six months in the county jail. Additionally, anyone convicted of solicitation could also be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law sex offender registration requirements.
After the undercover sting operation was concluded, the Newark Public Safety Director announced the arrests and said that the Newark Police Department will continue to “target the types of activities that denigrate the quality of life in our communities.”
For further information about this case, view the NJ.com article, “Newark Police Arrest 10 Alleged ‘Johns’ in Undercover Prostitution Sting.”
