Florida Criminal Lawyer Blog

Our Broward prostitution defense attorneys have learned that authorities in South Florida arrested 84 people last week in a three-day sweep that was aimed at finding underage girls who were forced into prostitution. Operation Cross Country IV was a joint task force with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Broward Sheriff's Office, and Miami-Dade, Miami Beach, and Miami police.

In Broward County, the task force arrested nine people. Seventy-five people were arrested in Miami-Dade County, and twenty-four of those were arrested on Miami Beach. Authorities also say a 14-year-old girl was rescued in the Miami Beach prostitution sweep.

The arrests were made on a variety of charges such as deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution, transportation for prostitution, possession of cocaine, and offering to engage in prostitution.

84 arrested in Miami-Dade, Broward counties as part of anti-prostitution operation, South Florida Sun Sentinel, October 26, 2009

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A few weeks ago, following the murder of a prostitute who had reportedly posted on Craigslist, the online classified site voluntarily removed its "Erotic Services" ads. Prior to that incident, Florida Rep. Rachel Burgin had proposed a bill to ban such ads from Craigslist and other newspapers and websites. The bill never made it to a vote, but the Hillsborough County Republican says she may introduce similar legislation next session. She sees the changes at Craigslist as a positive step.

However, the sudden change has caused concern among many of Broward County's prostitutes. One prostitute, who spoke anonymously to a reporter from the New Times of Broward-Palm Beach, said she was able to make over $1,000 per day before Craigslist removed its "Erotic Service" section, and now barely earns $600 per week. Instead of advertising in the "Erotic Service" section, the Florida woman said she now uses the new "Adult Service" section to post a short ad with her face and phone number.

According to the woman, "Nobody at Craigslist is trying to protect the girls doing this. They're just protecting themselves."

Local Prostitute Talks About Craigslist Woes, BrowardPalmBeach.com, May 22, 2009

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