A four-day prostitution sting in Polk County yielded 78 arrests — including five men from Plant City.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives, working in an undercover capacity, conducted the investigation Jan. 10 to 13. The sting targeted online e-commerce sites related to men and women who were advertising to commit prostitution and solicit for prostitution.
The five Plant City men arrested were Chase Lancaster, 27; Jeronimo Lara Jr., 20; Alpha John Loetscher, 47; Pedro Martinez-Angon, 21; and Robert Rivera Amberiz Jr., 26. All five were arrested for solicitation. Martinez-Angon also was charged with battery on an undercover officer, and Lancaster and Amberiz Jr. were charged with marijuana possession.
At the conclusion of the investigation, 78 suspects were arrested. Their charges ranged from solicitation of prostitution, drug possession, aiding and abetting, escape, traffic offenses, battery on a law-enforcement officer, violation of probation, and failure to register as a sexual offender.
Many of those arrested have past offenses and several had felony arrest histories. One suspect had 38 total arrests in Central Florida.
Some of those arrested had reputable jobs, such as working in information technology with the City of Lakeland; a retired American Airlines pilot; and a microbiologist employed by a food-testing lab in Georgia. Others arrested included a medical technician, laborers and restaurant servers.
“Anyone who breaks the law in Polk County will be arrested — regardless of what occupation they have or want to have,” Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said. “Whether it is on the street or online, it is illegal, and we will continue to investigate and arrest those involved in prostitution. If you conduct activity like this in Polk County, you will be arrested.”
For a complete list of those arrested, visit http://bit.ly/VGekwG