An undercover prostitution ring in Bellevue, Washington, led to the arrest of 110 men over the course of a week.
Two major police operations in Washington shut down more than 20 brothels over the last two years. Hoping to take advantage of the void in the market, Bellevue police teamed up with the King County Sheriff’s office to set up their own fake brothel.
The sting ended in the arrest of 110 men aged 22 to 65.
Police take one of the 110 men arrested in a Washington sex sting into custody last week after arresting him inside the fake brothel they set up
Police set up a fake brothel inside a downtown condo and targeted online sex buyers by posting ads advertising sex for sale. Dozens of unsuspecting buyers answered the ads, exchanged explicit text messages, and then were arrested after showing up at the condo and agreeing to exchange money for sex.
According to the Seattle Times, one man offered an undercover officer additional cash for sex without a condom.
Another wanted a discount because he had gotten lost on his way to the brothel.
Parents of one of the men arrested called the police to file a missing persons report, and then learned he had been busted in the sex sting.
‘Operation On Demand’ involved over 60 officers and was the largest operation of its kind, investigators told KOMO News.
The men were arrested after giving undercover officers money to pay for sex
Bellevue Prosecutor Stephen Penner (pictured) prepares to file charges against several men who were arrested
By the end of the operation on Friday, police had arrested 110 men and impounded 105 cars, two motorcycles and one bicycle, according to Bellevue police Captain Marcia Harnden.
‘A year ago, the Bellevue Police Department and the King County Sheriff’s Office dismantled a large scale human trafficking ring,’ said Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett in a press release. ‘This operation is a continuation of our effort to eradicate human trafficking crimes. We will continue to devote our combined resources to combat this plague.’
Mitch Levy, 50, was among the men arrested in the sting. He is a popular sports radio personality in Washington. He has been charged with misdemeanor patronizing a prostitute, according to jail and court records. However, he maintains he had come to the condo for a massage.
Captain Marcia Harnden (front) works with other investigators in the command center for this week’s operation
Police also arrested a 58-year-old technology worker who has formerly pleaded guilty to second-degree promoting prostitution in a brothel bust last year.
After his previous arrest, Lawrence Masaki completed a 10 week class for sex buyers and served 240 hours in community service.
However, Masaki and others did not appear to feel remorseful, said Harnden, the Bellevue police captain.
Mitch Levy was arrested in the sting. He is the host of a popular radio show Mitch in the Morning
‘Most of them are not remorseful. Most are worried about what they’re going to tell their wife or how they’re going to explain why their company vehicle got towed,’ she said to the Seattle Times.
Bellevue Police Department is closed for Labor Day and unavailable to comment.