Earlier this month, Delaware Online News Journal reported that Newark police had performed a reverse sting operation by placing a fake advertisement for commercial sex online. Stemming from these efforts, Newark PD attested that over 150 potential sex buyers contacted the phone number listed on the advertisement. Six of the men who responded to the advertisement allegedly travelled to the agreed upon hotel to solicit sex in exchange for money or drugs. These men were promptly arrested.
While authorities were conducting this reverse sting operation, a 19-year-old Las Vegas woman allegedly reported being strangled and robbed at the same hotel by someone she claimed she had recently met. While this crime is still under investigation, Newark PD are not ruling out the role prostitution may have played in this assault and robbery due to the often physically violent relationship between prostituted people, their pimps, and sex buyers.
According to the Delaware Online News Journal the six men who are arrested as a result of this the reverse sting operation have been released from police custody pending their upcoming court dates. These men all hailed from different areas within the tristate area: Saleh Ahmed, a 41 year old man from Newark, New Jersey, was charged with patronizing a prostitute; Jeffrey Osborne, a 47 year old man from Kemblesville, Pennsylvania, was charged with patronizing a prostitute and marijuana possession; Shrey Upadhyay, a year 25 year old man from West Deptford, New Jersey, was charged with patronizing a prostitute; Mario Colon, a 24 year old man from New Castle, Delaware, was charged with patronizing a prostitute; Jason Wilson, a year 34 year old man from Newark, New Jersey, was charged with patronizing a prostitute; and Robert North, a 49 year old man Smyrna, Delaware, was also charged with patronizing a prostitute.
The CSE Institute is pleased to see Newark PD implement reverse sting operations to target the demand that fuels the abusive commercial sex industry. We are also encouraged by the words of Newark Police Chief, Paul Tiernan, who told Delaware Online News Journal that, “prostitution can be seen as a victimless crime, many people are engaged in this activity as a result of human trafficking, and often results in drug activity and violent crimes being committed.”
Newark PD are asking for anyone who may have information related to this reverse sting operation or the assault and robbery to contact Detective Anderson at WAnderson@newark.de.us or (302) 366-7100 ext. 3469. Anonymous tips may also be provided by texting 302NPD and your message to TIP411, calling Crime Stoppers at 1‐800‐TIP‐3333 or submitting information online at tipsubmit.com where a reward may be available. The CSE Institute encourages anyone who suspects trafficking to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline number (1-888-373-7888), and the BeFree Textline number (Text HELP to 233733).
All views expressed herein are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law or of Villanova University.