Islandia is a town of about 3,000 residents in central Long Island, New York. Despite its small size, the community has reported serious problems related to prostitution– including the targeted attack and murder of prostituted women– for over two decades.

In response, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office has conducted at least three reverse stings targeting johns in Islandia, and released the identities of the men arrested.  For example, in November 2011, six men were arrested on charges of patronizing a prostitute after SCSO officers from the Fourth Precinct Crime Section and the Community Oriented Police Enforcement team conducted a “john” sting along Suffolk Avenue. In a press release, law enforcement reported that the investigation was launched following complaints about prostitution from local residents. Among the men arrested was a Level 3 Sex Offender. A similar operation in 2007 netted the arrests of 20 sex buyers.