Atlantic City anti-prostitution sting targets johns

[sam]

Anti-prostitution sting targets ‘Johns' in Atlantic City
Press of Atlantic City
By LYNDA COHEN Staff Writer, (609) 272-7257
Published: Tuesday, February 20, 2007

ATLANTIC CITY — They thought they were making dates for sex. Instead, 25 men now have dates with a judge.

Five female officers went undercover late Saturday night in an attempt to crack down on the other side of prostitution — the customers.

While there have been several sweeps rounding up prostitutes, the men who keep them in business have been relatively safe. Arresting “Johns” is more manpower intensive, officials have said. Saturday's effort, for example, took a team of about 10 officers to each undercover agent, said Sgt. Robert DeGaetano of the city's Vice Unit.

“It takes a lot of planning,” he said. “The backup teams are a close distance away: Far enough not to be seen, but close enough to get there if they need to.”

The investigation was led by the Division of Gaming Enforcement. No one from that office was available to comment on what spawned the decision to target customers.

“You would have to ask them,” said DeGaetano, who was on one of the teams that kept a close eye on each undercover officer.

It was three months ago today that four prostitutes were found slain and dumped in a drainage ditch behind a motel in the West Atlantic City section of Egg Harbor Township. Barbara V. Breidor, Molly Jean Dilts, Kim Raffo and Tracy Ann Roberts had all been killed and dumped at different times within about a one-month period, according to information released by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office at the time.

DeGaetano could not say whether there was any connection between Saturday's sting and the investigation into the killings.

“We were brought into this late,” he said of Atlantic City's involvement in the DGE-led investigation. Officers from Egg Harbor Township, Margate and North Wildwood also were involved, as was the FBI and county Prosecutor's Office.

But the possibility that the person involved in the killings could approach the undercover officers was kept in mind, as were the other dangers that face the women the officers were portraying.

“There are all kinds of people approaching them,” DeGaetano said. “You worry not only about the people driving up in vehicles, but also street people are walking up, harassing them. It's a risk out there.”

The officers were at two locations on the street — one uptown and one downtown, he said — as well as inside at least one casino.

DeGaetano did not want to give details about where the women were stationed, in case more operations are planned for those areas. He also did not release exactly where the backup officers were, so as not to endanger future investigations.

The operation began at about 10:30 Saturday, and continued until about 3 a.m. Sunday.

“It's constant,” DeGaetano said of the onslaught of customers. “You could have kept any one of those female officers out there, and you would have had people rolling up all night long.”

Most of the customers approached in cars, which were impounded, he said.

“One guy actually parked down the street and walked up to her,” DeGaetano said of the officer he backed up.

When asked if the undercover officers were armed, he replied, “it's up to the officer.”

The men arrested were processed and released on summonses. The men face disorderly persons offenses that are punishable by imprisonment for a period of not more than six months, a fine of not more than $1,000 or both.

[Cellycel]

'The customers' shouldn't be the 'other side of prostitution' they should be side side that is focused on the most.

Good job undercover police in Atlantic City. Good job.

[gerry]

I wonder too how the murders of 4 prostituted women can even begin to be accounted for by the arrest of 10 johns.

If it were to be a true precedent-setting action that would be meaningful, but does anyone believe it will?

[CoolAunt]

I wonder too how the murders of 4 prostituted women can even begin to be accounted for by the arrest of 10 johns.

If it were to be a true precedent-setting action that would be meaningful, but does anyone believe it will?

I hear you, Gerry, and while I know that I should be happy and appreciative of any work done that might help protect prostituted women, I also feel like a dog, wagging her tail happily for table scraps.