Sting targets classified websites
Updated: December 6, 2012
SPRINGFIELD -- A sting ended with the arrest of nine women. Police say they were trying to sell themselves for money. Now, they're facing prostitution charges. WCIA-3's Brittany Harris hears about the investigation.
Officials say they found all the women on a classified website. It's one they'd never heard of until this investigation.
Classified websites seem to be a hot spot for prostitution. Women pose as escorts, but then offer something very different instead. A lot of police departments have caught on to the cover, including investigators right here.
"It played faster and more people involved than we thought it would."
Cliff Buscher and his team made the huge bust this week. They arrested the nine women on prostitution charges.
"We set up a detail. Got a motel room. We went to some of these ads. Started making phone calls and everybody they called, showed up. And, everybody that showed up was arrested for prostitution."
The investigation started after police received complaints. Buscher says people were apparently passing out business cards. After doing some digging, police stumbled onto the website.
"This is a little more underground. But, it's still illegal. It's still dangerous for the girls doing that. They're walking into a hotel. They don't know who's in there, what their intentions are, what their past is, what they've done. They're taking a huge chance."
The sting was the first of its kind for Springfield police. Buscher says, after their success, they plan to do more.
"If you look on the website, there's a slew of them. There's a bunch out there. It's amazing."
All the women were arrested on a single day. Buscher says they planned to answer more ads, but didn't have enough time or resources. There was also a tenth person arrested. She was a driver for two women and was charged with possession of cannabis.
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Officials say they found all the women on a classified website. It's one they'd never heard of until this investigation.
Classified websites seem to be a hot spot for prostitution. Women pose as escorts, but then offer something very different instead. A lot of police departments have caught on to the cover, including investigators right here.
"It played faster and more people involved than we thought it would."
Cliff Buscher and his team made the huge bust this week. They arrested the nine women on prostitution charges.
"We set up a detail. Got a motel room. We went to some of these ads. Started making phone calls and everybody they called, showed up. And, everybody that showed up was arrested for prostitution."
The investigation started after police received complaints. Buscher says people were apparently passing out business cards. After doing some digging, police stumbled onto the website.
"This is a little more underground. But, it's still illegal. It's still dangerous for the girls doing that. They're walking into a hotel. They don't know who's in there, what their intentions are, what their past is, what they've done. They're taking a huge chance."
The sting was the first of its kind for Springfield police. Buscher says, after their success, they plan to do more.
"If you look on the website, there's a slew of them. There's a bunch out there. It's amazing."
All the women were arrested on a single day. Buscher says they planned to answer more ads, but didn't have enough time or resources. There was also a tenth person arrested. She was a driver for two women and was charged with possession of cannabis.
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