Arlington Heights, IL

Tactics Used

Auto Seizure
Buyer Arrests
Cameras
Community Service
Employment Loss
Identity Disclosure
IT Based Tactics
John School
Letters
License Suspension
Neighborhood Action
Public Education
Reverse Stings
SOAP Orders
Web Stings

Arlington Heights is a municipality of approximately 75,000 residents, located in the suburbs of Chicago in Cook County and Lake County, Illinois. Prostitution activity has been reported in the community for at least two decades.

Since at least 2015, local law enforcement have incorporated demand-reduction tactics into their anti-prostitution efforts. In September 2015, for example, 11 men were arrested following two separate stings conducted at area hotels; in August 2016, 14 more men were charged with commercial sexual solicitation following a third sting in the community. All three operations were conducted as part of the National Johns Suppression Initiative, coordinated by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. Following their arrests, all of the attempted sex buyers’ names and other identifying information were publicized in press.

In August 2018, a reverse sting conducted by the Arlington Heights Police Department resulted in the arrest of two men, both charged with solicitation of a sex act. The efforts were part of a nationwide crackdown on sex-trafficking that resulted in the arrest of at least 473 sex buyers by law enforcement agencies across 12 states. A statement by the Cook County Sheriff said that the sex trafficking industry perpetuates violence, exploitation, mental illness, and drug addiction for victims, and that the National Johns Suppression Initiative was designed to target and reduce the demand for purchased sex.

Key Partners

  • Arlington Heights Police Department
  • Cook County Sheriff’s Office

Key Sources

Web-Based Reverse Stings, Identity Disclosure:

Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:

  • “Woman Charged with Pimping 15-Year-Old Girl,” Arlington Heights Post, January 19 2006.

Background on Prostitution in the Area:

  • “2 Employees Arrested at Arlington Massage Parlor,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, March 17 1995.
  • “Prostitution Alleged at Spa a Fourth Time,” Arlington Heights Post, April 18 1996.
  • “Arlington Tanning Parlor Reopens after Judge Throws out Police Sting,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, September 6 1996.
  • “Prostitution Report Leads to Bribery Charges,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, October 10 1996.
  • “Spa Once Again Site of Prostitution Arrest,” Arlington Heights Post, October 10 1996.
  • “Prostitution Arrests Shutter Massage Parlor,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, January 22 1997.
  • “Weekly Digest; Spa Faces Prostitution Charges Yet Again,” Arlington Heights Post, January 23 1997.
  • “Another Spa Busted on Prostitution Charge,” Arlington Heights Post, March 27 1997.
  • “Two Jailed for Prostitution at Arlington Heights Massage Parlor,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, July 30 1999.
  • “Arlington Heights Police Target Salon in Prostitution Raid, Arrest 2,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, January 24 2001.
  • “Another Massage Spa Faces Hearing before Arlington Hts. Village Board,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, February 17 2001.
  • “Woman Charged with Prostitution,” Arlington Heights Post, May 6 2004.
  • “News Briefs; Woman Charged with Prostitution,” Arlington Heights Post, July 29 2004.
  • “Police: Internet Sting Case Leads to Prostitution Charge,” Arlington Heights Post, September 1 2005.
  • “Woman Charged with Prostitution,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, December 6 2005.
  • “Two Women Facing Prostitution Charges; Ad Posted on Web Site Leads to Arrests,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, June 7 2007.
  • “Craigslist Ad Leads to Prostitution Arrest,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, July 22 2007.
  • “‘Tanning’ Salon Closed in Prostitution Sting,” Arlington Heights Post, July 11 2008.
  • “Six Charged in Salon Prostitution Sting,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, July 12 2008.
  • “Salon Facing Prostitution Allegations Gives up License,” Arlington Heights Post, August 14 2008.
  • “Woman Charged with Prostitution in Arlington Hts.,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, May 3 2009.
  • “Mom Accused of Prostitution, Endangering Her Children,” Arlington Heights Daily Herald, July 22 2009.
State Illinois
Type City
Population 75071
Location
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