“Operation Backpage” Nets 22 Solicitation Arrests in Providence
Saturday, April 04, 2015
Providence Police have arrested 22 men in the undercover sting called “Operation Backpage,” it was announced Friday afternoon at a press conference by Mayor Jorge Elorza, Commissioner Steven Paré, Colonel Hugh Clements, and Peg Langhammer, Executive Director of Day One.
Providence Police conducted “Operation Backpage” on three different dates during the month of March in an effort to combat prostitution and the solicitation of sex, particularly through the website backpage.com. Men answering ads to pay for the sex were the target of the sting operation. Providence Police Detectives placed advertisements on Backpage.com disguised as women soliciting for sex. The undercover policewomen arranged to meet the responding males inside four different local area hotels, where they were each were arrested and charged with “Procurement of Sexual Conduct for a Fee” and either have been or will be arraigned in 6th district court.
Former State Representative Joanne Giannini focused attention on the issue of human trafficking and sex crimes in a recent MINDSETTER column. Giannini spearheaded legislation in 2009 which closed a loophole in Rhode Island law which made indoor prostitution illegal in Rhode Island.
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“I commend the Providence Police on this successful operation,” said Mayor Elorza. “Addressing procurement for sex and human trafficking is a high priority of my administration. Today we are sending a strong message, loud and clear, that the Providence Police are monitoring Backpage.com aggressively and individuals committing these atrocities are using the site at their own peril.”
“Prostitution is a crime that will not be tolerated in Providence. The Providence Police will continue to be vigilant in ridding the city of prostitution. Those who come to Providence to pursue this crime will suffer the consequences for their actions,” said Commissioner Paré.
“The Providence Police Department will continue our efforts to end the illegal solicitation on Backpage.com. The ongoing hard work of our officers led to the arrest of these 22 individuals, and those involved in these crimes should be aware that we are out there and we are watching,” said Colonel Clements.
"We're seeing an unprecedented number of these cases almost on daily basis. It's important that there be a team approach, particularly one that is victim-centered. The commercial sexual exploitation of children is child abuse, a form of sexual abuse, and these girls are victims. Day One is currently holding weekly multi-disciplinary team meetings to coordinate response to these cases, as well as providing trauma-informed treatment for trafficking victims of all ages,” said Peg Langhammer.
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