Langley is a town of about 2,000 residents in Aiken County, South Carolina. The community is located in the western portion of South Carolina, and abuts the state’s border with Georgia. It is part of the Augusta, GA metropolitan area and the city is located in historic Horse Creek Valley. Prostitution and sex trafficking activity have been well-documented in Langley and surrounding communities, and in unincorporated areas of the county. This activity and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates result in complaints to law enforcement agencies from residents and businesses. Among the more serious problems associated with prostitution in the area is child sex trafficking.

To combat prostitution and sex trafficking in the area, local law enforcement agencies have targeted consumer-level demand, which provides the revenue stream that motivates all prostitution and sex trafficking. At least two reverse stings have been conducted in Langley. In July 2005, an undercover operation by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office  led to the arrest of six men along Highway 421 in the towns of Gloverville and Langley, after receiving complaints from citizens about the activity along Highway 421. A similar operation in June 2008 resulted in five arrested sex buyers. The identities of the arrested sex buyers were included in news releases after both operations. At that time, a conviction for prostitution in South Carolina carried penalties of a fine up to $200 or imprisonment up to 30 days for a 1st offense; fines up to $1000 or imprisonment up to six months for a 2nd; and fines up to $3000 or imprisonment for not less than one year, or both, for 3rd and subsequent offenses.