Eight arrested as Sheriff’s Office conducts prostitution sting – Palm Coast Observer

Six men and two women were arrested March 3 and March 4 as the Flagler County Sheriff's Office conducted a sting operation to catch prostitutes and people soliciting prostitutes, according to the FCSO.

The six menhave been charged withsoliciting prostitution, and the two women have been charged with prostitution. One of the women is also charged with possession of fentanyl.

The operation also led deputies to a victim of human trafficking, according toa news release from the FCSO.That individual is being provided services to keep them away from their trafficker, according to the news release.

To catch the men, theFCSO's Special Investigations Unit created an ad on a website known to be used to solicit prostitution, according to arrest reports. The fake ad listedvarious sex acts for various prices, with a phone number. The men who arranged meetings and offered an undercover detective cash for sex were arrested.

Undercover detectives caught the two women by responding to existing ads for prostitution, then meeting with thewomen and offering cash in exchange for sexacts. The women were arrested when they agreed to the prices offeredand began to undress, according to their arrest reports.

The FCSO'sSpecial Investigations Unit,Homeland Security Investigations,Problem Area Crime EnforcementTeam and Community Policing Division worked together on the operation, according to the news release.

The thing to remember is that these arent victimless crimes. Human trafficking and prostitution ruins the lives of everyone involved, Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly said, according to the news release. We will always work hard to root out human trafficking operations and find help for the victims. I want to thank our Special Investigations Unit, Homeland Security Investigations and our PACE team for their effort throughout the length of the operation.

For more information on human trafficking, visit http://www.FloridaAllianceEndHT.com.

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Eight arrested as Sheriff's Office conducts prostitution sting - Palm Coast Observer