La Vista, NE

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

La Vista is a suburb of Omaha, NE with a population of approximately 17,000 residents, located in Sarpy County. In an attempt to reduce consumer-level demand that drives both prostitution and sex trafficking markets locally, police have conducted at least one web-based reverse sting operation. In June 2017, a multi-agency effort led to the arrests of 11 people on prostitution-related charges in La Vista. The arrests were made as part of a collaboration with the FBI’s Omaha Child Exploitation Task Force. The sting occurred at a time when tens of thousands of people were in the Omaha area for the College World Series. Police said it was a prime time for the sex trade. Seven men were booked on a charge of solicitation of prostitution, and ranged from 18 to 63 years old. The identities of the arrested sex buyers were released to news outlets. Investigators used the website Backpage.com, including undercover officers both posting and responding to ads, and then setting up a meeting place, which is where they made the arrests. Included in the collaborative operation were detectives and agents from the La Vista Police Department, FBI, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Omaha Police Department, Council Bluffs Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, and Lincoln Police Department.

Key Partners

  • La Vista Police Department
  • FBI’s Omaha Child Exploitation Task Force
  • Omaha Police Department
  • Council Bluffs Police Department
  • Lincoln Police Department
  • Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
  • Nebraska State Patrol
State Nebraska
Type City
Population 16648
Location
Comments are closed.