West Greenwich is a town of just over 6,300 residents, located in Kent County, Rhode Island near Warwick and Coventry. Prostitution and sex trafficking activity have occurred in the community, and in response, local law enforcement has at times taken a proactive approach to curtail underlying demand for commercial sex. For example, in December 2015, the Coventry and West Greenwich Police Departments, supported by officers from the Providence Police Department and the Rhode Island Human Trafficking Task Force, conducted a web sting targeting sex buyers. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Front Page,” utilized female undercover officers who posed as sex sellers on a website known for commercial sex solicitation, and arranged to meet the men who responded “at one of the hotels on Rte. 95 along the Coventry/West Greenwich line,” according to a law enforcement press release. Seven johns were arrested as a result; each was charged with “procurement of sexual conduct for a fee.” All of the arrestees’ names, mugshots, and other identifying information were released to the public. In the aforementioned press release, Coventry and West Greenwich Police Department representatives underscored their commitment to reducing human trafficking and commercial sex sales locally, stating:

“We hope that yesterday’s operation sends a strong message that we are monitoring online human trafficking and will act jointly and aggressively to curb illegal solicitation in our communities.”