Storm Lake is a city of just over 11,000 residents, located in Buena Vista County east of Sioux City, Iowa. Prostitution activity has been reported in the community in recent years. On at least two occasions, local law enforcement have uncovered commercial sex rings while responding to reports of related robberies and sexual assaults.

In an effort to reduce demand for prostitution, the Storm Lake Police Department has conducted investigations specifically targeting sex buyers. For example, in March 2015, the SLPD conducted a reverse sting using “social media sites” that resulted in the arrest of nine johns. The men were arrested after corresponding with a female undercover officer and agreeing to meet the decoy at a Storm Lake motel. In their efforts, SLPD officers were assisted by members of the Buena Vista County Attorney’s Office. Following their arrests, the offenders’ names and mugshots were released to the public, and publicized by some (but not all) local media outlets.

In 2016, six men were arrested during a prostitution enforcement operation. The Storm Lake Police Department conducted an investigation into online solicitation of prostitution called “Operation Fall Fling.”  Officers posed as prostituted persons on the internet, and several men allegedly arraigned to meet for purchased sex at a Storm Lake motel.  All six men were charged with Prostitution, and were booked into the Buena Vista County Jail. Police reportedly seized over $2500 in cash during the investigation.

In March, 2021, a man has been arrested and charged in Storm Lake for soliciting sex from a 16-year-old male. The man surrendered to Storm Lake police and was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail on a felony charge of prostitution and supplying alcohol to a minor.  Storm Lake police began an investigation on Jan. 31, when they were called to a resort for a disputed room charge. They met with four males ages 16-20, and eventually learned that the suspect offered to pay for a hotel room and alcohol in exchange for access to sexually abuse a 16-year-old.