Uniontown, PA
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 | ✓ |
Uniontown is a city in southwestern Pennsylvania’s Fayette County, about 40 miles south of Pittsburgh, and has a population of approximately 10,000. Prostitution has been identified as a substantial problem in the city, and residents have complained about unwanted solicitation and other negative effects of the local commercial sex market. Cases investigated have included one large-scale escort service prostitution operation with records of over 1,800 calls from male sex buyers.
To combat consumer-level demand, local law enforcement have conducted reverse stings since at least 1996, if not earlier. That year, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that a male sex buyer had been arrested after soliciting an undercover Pennsylvania State Trooper in Uniontown and fleeing the scene after law enforcement attempted to arrest him, nearly running over another trooper in the process. Pennsylvania State Police have conducted periodic reverse stings since that time, at times running sex buyer details in parallel with sweeps targeting prostituted women. Though some male sex buyers’ identities were reported in press, the majority of the offenders’ names were not publicized.
In early 2012, however, the Fayette County Drug Task Force conducted a web-based reverse sting which resulted in the arrests of eight men for solicitation. Each of the men was arrested after responding to online advertisements suggesting prostitution and arranging to meet a female undercover officer at a Uniontown motel. Unlike in prior city stings, the names, ages, and addresses of the arrested sex buyers were published in local news outlets.
Uniontown residents have, for their part, taken some steps to target underlying demand for prostitution. In August 2006, media outlets reported that some local residents had begun writing down license plate numbers of cars seen idling in high-stroll areas, and sending the information to city police.
Key Partners
- Uniontown Police Department
- Fayette County Drug Task Force
- Fayette County District Attorney’s Office
- Pennsylvania State Police
Key Sources
Street-Level Reverse Stings, Identity Disclosure:
- “Man Arrested after Chase,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 6 1996.
- “Trick Turns into Arrests on Sex Charges; Trooper Works Undercover Posing as Prostitute,” Washington Observer-Reporter, June 28 1997.
- “Troopers Charge 4 in Prostitution Sting,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, October 19 2002.
- “Months of Preparation Pay off for Police Sting,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, June 23 2006.
- “Man Formally Charged in Prostitution Sting,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, June 24 2006.
- “Police Arrest 17 in Undercover Prostitution Sting,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, June 24 2006.
- “Men Charged in Prostitution Sting,” Greensburg Tribune-Review, June 30 2006.
- “Six Men Charged in City Prostitution Sting,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, June 30 2006.
Web-Based Reverse Stings, Identity Disclosure:
- “Fayette Prostitution Sting Results in Arrest of 8 Men,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, February 9 2012.
- “8 Charged with Patronizing Prostitutes,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, February 10 2012.
Identity Disclosure:
- “Man Arrested after Chase,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 6 1996.
- “John Does’ Attorneys Continue Attempt to Keep Names Secret,” Connellsville Daily Courier, June 5 2001.
- “Names of John Does Revealed,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, December 9 2001.
- “John Does Halt Court Action,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, January 21 2002.
- “Troopers Charge 4 in Prostitution Sting,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, October 19 2002.
- “Prison Guard Charged in Prostitution Case,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, September 29 2004.
- “Jail Guard Suspended after Prostitution Charge,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 30 2004.
- “Man Formally Charged in Prostitution Sting,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, June 24 2006.
Neighborhood Action:
- “Uniontown Cleaning up Streets,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 20 2006.
- Uniontown cleaning up street of ill repute (2006)
Background on Prostitution in the Area:
- “Former Fayette Commissioner Faces Prostitution Trial,” Beaver County Times, June 25 2000.
- “Fayette County; Release of Names Debated,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 1 2000.
- “Release of Phone Records Adds Fuel to Alleged Prostitution Case,” Gettysburg Times, August 7 2000.
- “Former Politician Convicted of Prostitution,” Reading Eagle, December 7 2001.
- “South; Uniontown; Warrants Issued for 24,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 25 2002.
- “Former Official Remains Free in Escort Case Appeal,” Allegheny Times, March 25 2003.
- “Fayette Madam Faces Prison,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 29 2003.
- “Prison Guard Charged in Prostitution Case,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, September 29 2004.
- “Jail Guard Suspended after Prostitution Charge,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 30 2004.
- “Prostitution Ring Uncovered in City,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, August 14 2005.
- “Prostitute Suspects Strike Plea Bargains,” Greensburg Tribune-Review, June 28 2006.
- “Ten Women in Prostitution Sting Waive Charges to Court,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, June 28 2006.
- “Five Charged in Police Prostitution Sting,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, January 13 2007.
- “Anti-Prostitution Signs Stolen,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, May 1 2007.
- “Residents Opposing Activity,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, May 2 2007.
- “Undercover Sting Operation in City Nets Prostitution Arrests,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, May 4 2008.
- “Women Involved in Prostitution Sting Waive Charges,” Uniontown Herald-Standard, May 15 2008.
Documented Violence against Individuals Engaged in Prostitution in the Area:
- “Family Man-Pimp ‘Executed’ near Uniontown Year Ago Today,” Pittsburgh Press, March 21 1982.
- “One Man, Two Lives: Slaying Unsolved,” Pittsburgh Press, March 21 1982.
- “Man Arrested after Chase,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 6 1996.
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Type | City |
| Population | 10372 |
| Location |
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