Hickory is a city of approximately 44,000, located in western North Carolina. 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. Guided by citizens’ complaints, Hickory police have – at times – routinely conducted street-level reverse stings using undercover female officers as decoys. Some reverse stings have involved first arresting prostituted women and then essentially replacing them with undercover officers to continue attracting sex buyers. Those arrested have their identifying information reported in the media.