Surfside Beach is a city of approximately 4,300 residents, located in Horry County, South Carolina on the Atlantic coast. It is approximately 100 miles north of Charleston, near the cities of Conway and Myrtle Beach. Prostitution and sex trafficking activity have been well-documented in the city and surrounding communities, encouraged in part by summer tourism. This activity and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates results in complaints to law enforcement agencies from residents and businesses.

To combat prostitution and sex trafficking in the area, local law enforcement agencies have targeted consumer-level demand for commercial sex, which provides the revenue stream driving all commercial sex and trafficking, by arresting sex buyers. For example, in October, 2012 a citizen’s call reporting suspicious activity near the Surfside Beach Pier led police to an investigation, and eventual arrest of five people on charges related to prostitution.  Responding to the call, officers investigated and discovered what appeared to be “call girl” escort service serving as a cover for prostitution. After conducting a brief surveillance operation, police charged two individuals and charged them with prostitution. The investigation uncovered a larger operation, leading to the arrest and charges made against two men for attempting to buy sex.