MEDIA RELEASE

Date: 11/9/2009	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Time: 4 p.m.

SEX CRIMES TASK FORCES – NET 55 ARRESTS

Tonight, the paperwork is complete and the numbers are in, for arrests from a major multi-county sex crimes task force. A law enforcement operation to catch prostitutes, who use popular websites to advertise services, netted 55 arrests. Operation S.T.O.P. - Stop The Online Prostitution - is a Central Florida law enforcement initiative to combat prostitution. This operation started midway last week and continued through Saturday. S.T.O.P. marks the first time for an operation with multi-jurisdictions going after sex crimes at the same time. The motivation behind S.T.O.P. is the recent increase of online prostitution services. 

Twelve drug/vice task forces, from every corner of Central Florida, set up S.T.O.P. operations at various locations. Calls were made, by detectives, to phone numbers advertised online. A “date” was set. And law enforcement undercover procedures were initiated. When the suspect agreed to sex for pay – an arrest was made. 

Here’s the breakdown from the seven task forces, which participated: 

• MADET Ocala/Marion County –                             14 arrests

• MBI/Orange County Sheriff’s Office/Orlando-           14 arrests        

• Osceola County Sheriff’s Office –                           12 arrests

• East Volusia Narcotics Task Force –                       6 arrests

• Sumter County Sheriff’s Office –                              6 arrests

• Alachua County Sheriff’s Office –                             2 arrests

• Citrus County Sheriff’s Department –                        1 arrest

It is important to contact your local law enforcement agency to get photos and public record reports on each suspect.  

• MADET Ocala/Marion County _ call Judge Cochran: (352) 368-3594

• MBI/Orange County Sheriff’s Office/Orlando _ call Sgt. Samuel Riggi, Jr.: (407) 836-9756

• Osceola County Sheriff’s Office _ call Twis Lizasuain: (407) 348-1100

• East Volusia Narcotics Task Force _ call Gary Davidson: (386) 736-5989

• Sumter County Sheriff’s Office _ call Lt. Donald Knee: (352) 303-0075

• Alachua County Sheriff’s Office _ call Sgt. Karyn O'Quinn: (352) 334-2431

• Citrus County Sheriff’s Department _ call Gail Tierney: (352) 341-7460
   

Volusia County Update: 11/09/09

In Volusia County, the sting operation was conducted on Wednesday. The lead agency was the East Volusia Narcotics Task Force, which is a multi-agency drug and vice squad consisting of officers from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Daytona Beach Police Department, Ormond Beach Police Department, Edgewater Police Department and the New Smyrna Beach Police Department. The operation took place at a hotel in East Volusia, where agents leased three rooms.

 All six defendants below were charged with prostitution. Additionally, Barbara Smith was charged with possession of marijuana under 20 grams:

•  Cynthia Ann Cressy, 36, Daytona Beach 

• Jamie L. Geisert, 37, Daytona Beach

• Charlene Sabrina Robb, 26, Lake Mary

• Barbara June Smith, 47, Daytona Beach

• Carol Dallas Stalnaker, 26, Ormond Beach

• Elizabeth Anne Stearns, 30, Ormond Beach