North Myrtle Beach, SC

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

North Myrtle Beach is a city of approximately 16,000 residents, located approximately 100 miles north of Charleston in Horry County, South Carolina. Prostitution and sex trafficking activity have been well-documented in the city and surrounding communities, and in unincorporated areas of Horry county.  This activity and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates results in complaints to law enforcement agencies from residents and businesses. Among the more serious problems associated with commercial sex in the area include child sex trafficking.

Much of the local prostitution activity occurs in hotels and strip clubs, and is advertised and arranged online.  For example, in July 2017, officers from the North Myrtle Beach Police Department (NMBPD) arrested two women in during an undercover prostitution operation. Detectives had found an advertisement for a “cutie with a booty” offering sexual services on social media. A detective called the number provided and a woman offered him a “full session” of sex for $200. The woman was arrested and admitted to prostitution after the detective arrived at the pre-determined location and the woman again affirmed the arrangement to sell sex.

To combat prostitution and sex trafficking in the area, local law enforcement agencies have targeted consumer-level demand for commercial sex, which provides the revenue stream driving all commercial sex and trafficking.  For example, oNMBPD periodically receive complaints about online advertising and social media websites advertising thinly disguised commercial sex (e.g., escort and massage types of ads).  In January 2018, police monitoring commonly used advertising websites (craigslist and backpage) noticed an increase in online activity facilitating prostitution. Decoy ads for prostitution were posted on Craigslist. Men who made contact with an undercover police officer via phone to arrange sex in exchange for money were given a pre-determined location to meet.  Five men were arrested after arriving at the location and agreeing again to exchange money for sexual acts.  The identities of the arrested sex buyers were included in press releases.

 

Key Partners

  • North Myrtle Beach Police Department
  • Horry County Sheriff’s Office

Key Sources

Web-Based Reverse Sting, Shaming:

  • http://wpde.com/news/local/north-myrtle-beach-police-conduct-prostitution-sting-after-increase-in-online-activity (2018)
  • http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/37299508/multiple-people-arrested-after-undercover-prostitution-sting-in-north-myrtle-beach (2018)
  • https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/crime/article195142104.html (2018)
  • https://www.htcinc.net/feed-items/craigslist-ads-lead-to-north-myrtle-beach-prostitution-sting/
  • https://www.facebook.com/newzjunky/posts/1629459880445480

Background on Local Prostitution:

 

Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:

 

 

State South Carolina
Type City
Population 16032
Location
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