From today's Belleville (IL) News-Democrat:
Belleville Police get info from online network before making arrest in prostitution case BY MARIA BARAN News-Democrat
BELLEVILLE --Two people have been charged after police set up a sting operation to investigate a possible prostitution ring.
Sherrie M. Denton, 22, and Michael S. Weinberg, 25, both of 800 S. Virginia St. were charged today.
Denton was charged with prostitution and unauthorized possession of cannabis sativa. Weinberg was charged with possession of cannabis sativa.
On July 31, police received an anonymous tip and began investigating a possible prostitution ring was operating out of the city using the online networking community Craigslist.com, according to Capt. Don Sax.
Police found more than one posting with the same phone number, so they subpoenaed the phone records.
Thursday night, an undercover police officer set up a sting: "They called the number, set up a meeting, the solicitation took place and they made the arrests," Sax said.
Craigslist offers online classifieds, including jobs, housing, personal, erotic services and more.
Two of the "erotic service" ads listed on the site for Belleville, boast a 22-year-old woman with long black hair. It said, "Ask for the 'SPECIAL' and I'll take 25 off the donation!!!" Prices ranged from $150 to $300 for various services.
CL has long been LE's target of choice. Anyone who does anything illegal there is just not thinking clearly.