Cattaraugus County is located in the southwestern portion of New York and shares a border with Pennsylvania. The area has a population of approximately 76,000 and is home to the Allegany Indian Reservation and the Seneca Nation of New York. The Allegheny River also runs through the region. The county is not known for being heavily influenced by prostitution; however, in 2015, one case rewrote the county’s narrative on sexual exploitation. According to news reports, four individuals were arrested and charged due to their involvement in the sex trafficking of a 10-year-old girl. As the trial continued, details of the abuse were spread throughout the local media outlets. Identity disclosure occurred as the names, ages, and crimes of the four offenders were circulated. Reports also stated that the arrests were made after a long investigation conducted by a task force from the Salamanca Police Department and Cattaraugus County Child Protective Services.

In a more recent case, two individuals were arrested on prostitution-related charges. In July 2020, the pair was taken into custody by the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department. The names and ages of the offenders were released in addition to their charges. One was indicted for offering a false statement and promoting prostitution, while the other’s charges involved patronizing a prostitute.

In May 2021, a man was arrested in the town of Conewango for promoting the prostitution of a minor. The man allegedly offered to pay a 14-year-old girl to have sex with him. The investigation began in March when the 14-year-old girl’s mother reported that she and her daughter spent the night at the man’s apartment, where he offered to pay her for sex, upping the offer until he reached $2,500. She refused, at which point the man left the apartment for 20 minutes and returned with several $20 bills, which he threw at her on the couch. She again refused and returned the money. After further investigation, the man was arrested and remanded to the county jail. The man’s name, age, and address were released to the public.