Lodi, CA

Categories:

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 ✓

Lodi is a city of approximately 67,000 residents, located south of Sacramento in California’s Central Valley, near Stockton. Prostitution and sex trafficking activity, occurring both at street level and within adult-oriented businesses, has been reported in the community for decades. Cases of targeted kidnappings, assaults and homicides of prostituted women, and robberies of adult-oriented businesses suspected of prostitution have been documented locally.

Although much of the city’s efforts have prioritized the arrest of individuals being sold for sex, the Lodi Police Department has conducted periodic reverse stings to arrest sex buyers as well. Such stings have been conducted since at least 1993, if not earlier. During the operations, the LPD typically employs a female undercover officer as a decoy. The officer then “strolls” along major thoroughfares known for commercial sex activity, at times monitored by audio and video surveillance cameras. When offenders solicit the decoy, they are apprehended by a backup team. Once arrested, sex buyers may have their vehicle seized, searched and impounded. When asked why their anti-prostitution strategy targets sex buyers over those on the “supply” side of prostitution, LPD officers said that “arresting a number of men compared to two or three prostitutes sends a louder message to the community.”

In a reverse sting conducted in September, 2002, police used audio and video equipment as part of their operations. Officers in the support team around the decoy police woman used radios, microphones and a video camera the two women posing as prostituted persons are put into position. Hidden microphones are double-checked to be sure detectives in nearby vehicles could hear conversations, and the female detective would remain in sight the entire time, of both supporting officers and video cameras. The video evidence is used to support prosecutions. In Lodi, for most first-time sex buyer arrests, the punishment is a fine and probation, with an order to stay away from the area (SOAP Order).

Key Partners

Key Sources

Street-Level Reverse Stings:

Cameras, SOAP Orders:

Background on Prostitution in the Area:

  • “Woman Testifies She Worked as Lodi Prostitute,” Lodi News-Sentinel, December 13 1950.
  • “No Chance for Male Hookers,” Lodi News-Sentinel, January 23 1976.
  • “Prostitute Sent to Jail, Placed on Probation,” Lodi News-Sentinel, December 18 1980.
  • “Two Arrested in Alleged Prostitution Operation in Lodi,” Lodi News-Sentinel, June 19 1985.
  • “Three Arrested for Sex Crimes; Prostitution Alleged at Two Lodi Massage Parlors,” Lodi News-Sentinel, June 16 1992.
  • “Council Reviews Massage License,” Lodi News-Sentinel, August 6 1992.
  • “Massage Parlors Remain Closed,” Lodi News-Sentinel, September 16 1992.
  • “Solicitation Charge,” Lodi News-Sentinel, August 3 1993.
  • “Police Sting Prostitution Ring,” Lodi News-Sentinel, January 12 1995.
  • “Prostitution Arrest,” Lodi News-Sentinel, May 16 1998.
  • “Lodi Gets Tough with Massage Establishments,” Lodi News-Sentinel, June 28 2000.
  • “Lodi Council Supports Adult Business Ordinance,” Lodi News-Sentinel, October 4 2000.
  • “Regional Roundup; Massage Parlor’s License Suspended,” Lodi News-Sentinel, October 2 2002.
  • “Regional Roundup; Two Arrested for Prostitution at Massage Business,” Lodi News-Sentinel, December 16 2002.
  • “Massage Parlors,” Lodi News-Sentinel, December 19 2002.
  • “Two Arrested for Prostitution at Lodi Massage Businesses,” Lodi News-Sentinel, January 9 2003.
  • “Regional Roundup; Prostitution Suspects Found Guilty,” Lodi News-Sentinel, March 24 2003.
  • “Regional Roundup; Business Owner Arrested for Alleged Prostitution,” Lodi News-Sentinel, April 24 2003.
  • “Lodi Massage Parlor Is Front for Prostitution, Prosecutors Say,” Lodi News-Sentinel, June 10 2003.
  • “Regional Roundup; Mistrial Declared in Prostitution Trial,” Lodi News-Sentinel, June 16 2003.
  • “Regional Roundup; Prostitution Case Dismissed,” Lodi News-Sentinel, July 7 2003.
  • “Regional Roundup; 3 Arrested at Massage Parlor,” Lodi News-Sentinel, August 19 2003.
  • “Police to Revoke Lodi Massage Parlor Owner’s License,” Lodi News-Sentinel, August 28 2003.
  • “Regional Roundup; No Verdict Reached in Prostitution Case,” Lodi News-Sentinel, October 24 2003.
  • “Regional Roundup; Mistrial Declared in Prostitution Case,” Lodi News-Sentinel, December 12 2003.
  • “Regional Roundup; Two Employees Arrested at Local Massage Parlor,” Lodi News-Sentinel, March 1 2004.
  • “Regional Roundup; Three Arrested at Massage Parlor,” Lodi News-Sentinel, April 25 2004.
  • “City to Target Massage Parlors That Offer ‘Extra’ Services,” Lodi News-Sentinel, December 29 2006.
  • “Four Arrested in Lodi Prostitution Caper,” Lodi News-Sentinel, August 19 2008.
  • “Woman Accused of Propositioning Police Officer on Stakeout,” Lodi News-Sentinel, January 30 2009.
  • “Fronts for Prostitution?,” Lodi News-Sentinel, April 23 2010.
  • “Lodi Massage Business Still Open Despite Upcoming Trial,” Lodi News-Sentinel, July 14 2010.
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/lodi-prostitution-arrest/ (2020)
  • https://www.abc10.com/lodi-alleged-prostitution-massage-parlors (2022)
  • https://www.lodinews.com/news/article (2022)

Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:

Documented Violence Against Individuals Engaged in Prostitution in the Area:

State California
Type City
Population 67021
Location
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