Prostitution Stings in Santa Maria Net 21 Arrests

SANTA MARIA – An undercover prostitution sting over the course of two months resulted in mulitple arrests of men looking to pay for sex, according to police.

In early November, 10 men were arrested for solicitation of prostitution at an undisclosed street location in Santa Maria, after investigators from the Police Department worked in conjunction with members of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office to conduct the undercover operation.

During the first investigation, two undercover female law enforcement officers posed as street-level prostitutes, and throughout the course of the evening, the 10 men were arrested for soliciting sex, police said.

Police conducted a second sting operation this month that involved investigators from the Santa Maria Police Department and California Alcohol Beverage Control. Again, two female undercover officers posed as street-level prostitutes, and throughout the course of the evening, 11 men were arrested for solicitation of prostitution.

Both stings were conducted at various locations on North Broadway, South Broadway and East Main Street, although the exact locations are being withheld by the Police Department to preserve them for future undercover operations, police said.

Additionally, police aren’t releasing the names of the suspects that were arrested in either of the undercover operations.

Both operations are the beginning of a series of investigative efforts by the Police Department that are designed to address the ongoing prostitution problems in Santa Maria, according to police.

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