Alamogordo is the seat of Otero County, New Mexico. Its population is approximately 32,000. Prostitution activity has been well-documented within the city, and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates results in complaints to law enforcement agencies. For example, in December, 2011, police in Alamogordo arrested a husband and wife on prostitution charges during an undercover operation at an Alamogordo area hotel. The Otero County Sheriff said the couple were arrested after members of the county’s narcotics enforcement task force followed up on a website advertisement offering sex in exchange for money. One was charged with promoting prostitution and possession of drug paraphernalia. The other was charged with prostitution, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. One of the suspects met with the undercover deputy and agreed to have his wife exchange sex for money at an Alamogordo area hotel. When the couple arrived at a hotel they were arrested.

Consumer level demand provides the revenue stream for all prostitution and sex trafficking, and has therefore been targeted by local law enforcement agencies as a strategy for prevention and response. Demand reduction tactics used in the city include the arrest of sex buyers and the public disclosure of their identities. In December, 2022, the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that a man was arrested and made an initial appearance in federal court on a criminal charging him with coercion and enticement of minors, sex trafficking of children, and transportation of minors. According to the complaint, beginning in 2018 and continuing into 2022, the man allegedly groomed and sexually abused at least four children who were between nine and 13 years old at the time of the abuse. He allegedly used such “gifts” as vape pens, alcohol, sex toys and travel to coerce and entice the minor victims to engage in sexual acts with him. On various occasions, he allegedly transported the victims from New Mexico into Texas and back for the purposes of engaging in sexual activities with the victims. If convicted, the man would face a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case with assistance from the Alamogordo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.