Smithfield Township is a community of about 7,000 residents in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Prostitution activity, often arranged online and occurring within local businesses and hotels, has been reported in the town and surrounding areas for years. The activity generates community complaints to police, and associated crimes include the commercial sexual exploitation of minors.

In July 2017, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office Detective Unit conducted a large-scale undercover prostitution sting at a hotel in Smithfield Township. The operation, led by the  District Attorney’s office, resulted in the arrest of ten individuals who were charged with various human trafficking offenses. Seven men were cited with patronizing a prostitute during the sting. In the effort to catch sex buyers, ads were placed online, the hotel room was wired for surveillance, and initial contacts by phone were recorded. The identities of the arrested sex buyers were released to the public. The operation involved members of the Monroe County Office of the District Attorney, Wayne County Office of the District Attorney, the Monroe County Drug Task Force, Stroud Area Regional Police, Bethlehem Township Police Department, Sugarloaf Township Police Department, Monroe County Probation and Parole, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and members from the Pennsylvania State Constables.