Myrtle Beach is a coastal city of approximately 30,000 residents, located near Conway in Horry County, South Carolina. It is a major tourist area in the southeast, attracting an estimated 14 million visitors each summer. Prostitution has been identified as a substantial problem in the area, and residents have complained about chronic street prostitution in some city neighborhoods, and in area hotels and motels.

To address consumer-level demand, the Myrtle Beach Police Department has conducted reverse stings since at least 1997. For example, in 2011, the MBPD made 70 prostitution-related arrests, including many men attempting to buy sex, and reported that “prostitution is a growing problem in the city.”

August 2020 saw the arrest of 11 individuals on prostitution related charges in the area. According to law enforcement, the indictments were officially for soliciting or loitering for prostitution. Drug arrests were also made in connection to the operation. As in previous cases, the names and ages of those arrested were released to the public. Furthermore, the areas targeted in the sting were both oceanfront locations known for their prevalence of prostitution.