Ten men were arrested for patronizing a prostitute after a recent undercover police operation, Fort Collins Police announced Monday.
During the undercover operation, The Fort Collins Police Services Neighborhood Enforcement Team placed ads in the escort sections of websites like Backpage and Craigslist. Potential clients responded to the ads. When the men arrived at the scheduled time and agreed-upon hotel, they found an empty room instead of a prostitute. When they exited the building, officers took them into custody.
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FCPS reportedly wants to reduce prostitution in Fort Collins by making it a more difficult market for soliciting or selling sexual services. Prostitution is associated with sex trafficking, illegal drug use and violent crimes, according to FCPS.
Human trafficking has been a topic of concern recently in Fort Collins and Colorado. In late July, FCPD took nine men into custody for the same charge as part of the ongoing effort to reduce sex trafficking in Larimer County.
CSU hosted a modern-day slavery presentation on Nov. 10, that educated students and community members about human trafficking in Colorado. This year, 97 minors have been recovered from the sex trafficking industry in Colorado.
A man was also sentenced to 24 years in prison earlier this month for trafficking minors and pimping women and girls across Colorado, according to a report in the Coloradoan.
Police plan to continue enforcement in Fort Collins and will reportedly adapt their tactics as the underground market evolves.
Collegian news editor Erin Douglas can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @erinmdouglas23.
