SEPTEMBER 15--Charging that Craigslist remains a "one-stop shop for all your prostitution needs," a Florida sheriff yesterday announced the arrest of 28 women who allegedly advertised sexual services on the popular online classifieds site. Dubbed "Operation Hot Date," the undercover police action also netted several pimps who worked with the alleged hookers, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. The women, pictured in the mug shots on the following pages, offered a variety of sexual acts carrying prices between $125 and $800. Two of the alleged hookers who arrived for appointments with undercover officers were pregnant, and a third arrived with fur-lined handcuffs. In announcing the sweep, Judd criticized Craigslist for "facilitating prostitution" and deriving proceeds from the illegal act, since the site charges for the placement of the adult ads. Judd added that he wanted to press charges against the web site, which has previously pledged to law enforcement agencies that it would crack down on ads promoting prostitution. (7 pages of Photos)

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0915091hotdate1.html

ever been to turkey?

My silent protest - I don't got to Florida willingly. If I do travel there I'm very careful, and don't spend much money there. There are plenty of other places with great beaches and warm water - say the Caribbean or Bahamas where I would much rather vacation.

As far as him suing Craigslist - all talk for the papers, he hasn't got a chance. I think its about time that Craigslist mans up and starts defending their rights to be a business that accepts advertisements from the general public just like newspapers and other traditional media and that they are well within the law. They do not engage in or encourage prostitution any more than the phone company does, but do you hear these redneck sheriffs going after AT&T for accepting massage and escort ads? Not!

--aragonz