Lower Bucks County, PA- A vice investigation prompted by classified ads on craigslist has led to 12 women being charged with prostitution offenses in Bucks County, Pennysylvania.
The women’s posts advertised “girlfriend experiences” and asked for payment in “ro$e$” or “125 donations.”
Undercover officers arranged to meet the women in motels along the nearby Lincoln highway. A spokesman said most were arrested within two minutes, AP reports.
Local public safety director Fred Harran said: “They are blatantly taking advantage of technology to solicit their acts and we are going to use technology to arrest them.”
Several brought boyfriends along to the meets last week. Five men were arrested on drugs charges.
Craigslist spokeswoman Sue MacTavish Best said: “Prostitution is not allowed on Craigslist…any more than tax fraud is allowed by the IRS or speeding by the police.” ®
MacTavish Best said “the site cooperates with law enforcement and has a flagging system that allows users to bring prohibited content to the company’s attention so it can be removed.”
Similar sting operations have led to prostitution charges against women in states including Maryland, New York, Oregon and New Hampshire.