Police Arrest Four Women in Prostitution Sting

Howard County Police arrested four women and one man during a sting targeting online prostitution ads, according to a statement.

The four women, all from out of state, were ages 21 to 29, according to police. Vice detectives found them when they answered online ads, masquerading as potential customers.

When the women met with the undercover officers and offered sex for money, they were arrested.

A 20-year-old New York man who police say was waiting in the car for one of the women was charged with drug possession, as was one of the women. 

“We know that many women are brought from state to state for the purposes of prostitution,” Police Chief William McMahon said in a statement. 

“If we can bring some of these women into our custody, maybe we have a chance of helping them break free from this lifestyle and the men who often control it.” 

The goal of the sting was two-fold, according to police: to find possible victims of sex trafficking as well as to send a message that “prostitution will not be tolerated in Howard County,” the statement read.

Women who talk to police can help detectives find their pimps, men who often force women into prostitution, according to police, by feeding drug habits or other measures.

Vice detectives found the woman on Backpage.com, a free classifieds website, according to police. Detectives arranged meetings with the women on June 24; any woman who offered sexual services for money was taken into custody. Two of the women were from New Jersey, one from New York and another from Pennsylvania.

Police say they will continue such undercover operations in an effort to keep prostitutes out of Howard County.  

Find more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force online. 

No trafficking charges were filed in these cases.