Inside a High-End Prostitution Sting in Jacksonville

Imagine this: You decide to pay for sex. You search a well-known prostitution website, set up a “date” at a nice Jacksonville hotel, and walk into the room—only to come face-to-face with JSO detectives. The person you thought you were paying? An undercover officer. Not so lucky. On March 18 and 19, during Operation Lucky Charm, ten individuals were arrested for soliciting or offering prostitution. Most were married; one even got a call from “Wifey” while he was in handcuffs. The men were willing to pay hundreds of dollars for the unsavory deeds. The women offered their bodies for cash. Let’s be clear—prostitution isn’t a victimless crime. Paying for sex can fuel human trafficking, exploit vulnerable individuals, and put your spouse at risk of disease. Stings like this lower the demand. We’d like to thank our hotel partners for working with us to stop prostitution and trafficking in our community. On this and similar operations, we bring in human trafficking experts to interview the women and look for signs they may be forced into the sex trade against their will. Your #JSO Vice Unit is committed to protecting our community. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you see suspicious activity, online or in person, report it. We’re just a call away: 904.630.0500. You can also call the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.