DOCUMENT: Crime

Craigslist Hooker Bust

Shock! Pennsylvania sting nets 'casual encounters' advertisers

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Craigslist Hooker Bust

SEPTEMBER 13--Meet the girls of Craigslist.

The women pictured in the mug shots on the following pages were arrested last week in a Pennsylvania sting targeting alleged prostitutes advertising their services via the online classifieds site. The Bensalem Township Police Department's two-day operation targeted Craigslist because it "blatantly allows prostitutes to post advertisements with explicit solicitations for sex for money," according a press release.

The women, who range in age from 20 to 43, were each charged with a single misdemeanor prostitution count, which carries a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison.

Each arrestee was nabbed via ads placed on Craigslist's Philadelphia site, apparently in the racy "casual encounters" section. Bensalem Township is located just north of Philadelphia. (8 pages)