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Police make 24 arrests in Newport News prostitution operation

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Ohio

NEWPORT NEWS Police in Newport News made 24 arrests over the weekend as part of an undercover operation targeting prostitution.

Seventeen men were charged with soliciting prostitutes. Four women and a 17-year-old juvenile female were charged with prostitution, and two men were charged with aiding prostitution and the use of a vehicle to promote prostitution.

Police spokesman Lou Thurston said the operation was executed on Saturday, utilizing backpages.com, where people post ads trying to connect with each other for sexual encounters. The detectives targeted ads from suspected prostitutes and ads from men attempting to connect with prostitutes. Meetings were arranged at an apartment in the central section of Newport News.


"Once the suspects arrived and discussed the terms of the evening's activities," Thurston said, "they were arrested and charged with the appropriate charges."

Arthur Gooden, 51, of Hampton, and Samuel Akinsanya, 25, of Brooklyn, were charged with aiding and abetting prostitution and the use of a vehicle to promote prostitution. Akinsanya was also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The following women were charged with prostitution: Victoria Heckstall, 20, of Hampton; Laura Lewis, 40, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Kiara Ward, 20, of Memphis; Latiesha Hawkins, 19, of Norfolk; and a 17-year-old juvenile female from Norfolk. Hawkins was also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

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