Vestal is a town within Broome County in the Southern Tier of upstate New York, and lies between the Susquehanna River and the Pennsylvania border.  It is located about 70 miles directly south of Syracuse, and immediately west of Binghamton.  As of the 2020 census, its population was just over 29,000. Vestal is on the southern border of the county and is west and southwest of Binghamton. Prostitution has a well-documented presence throughout Broome County, including in Vestal. This activity and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates results in complaints to law enforcement agencies from residents and businesses. For example, in February, 2017, five local residents were arrested after a prostitution investigation in Vestal about activities at 821 Main Street. Police said they had received multiple complaints and responses to calls for service at this residence in recent history, and had executed search warrants there previously. Police learned of the possibility of drug use and sale, as well as organized prostitution occurring at the residence. Police say proactive enforcement work conducted by Vestal patrol officers led to follow up investigators confirming the presence of prostitution and narcotic activity. A search warrant was executed, and police say they found the prostitution suspects at the location, as well as marijuana, heroin, and drug paraphernalia. Among the more serious crimes associated with the local commercial sex market is sex trafficking.

Consumer level demand provides the revenue stream for all prostitution and sex trafficking, and has therefore been targeted by local law enforcement agencies as a strategy for prevention and response. In addition to city-level efforts to combat consumer-level demand for prostitution, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Investigations Unit Task Force occasionally conducts countywide web-based reverse stings. Vestal police have conducted sting operations that have resulted in the arrest of sex buyers. For example, in October, 2013, three Broome County women and an Ithaca man were charged in connection with a Prostitution Sting. Vestal Police and the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit conducted the detail in the Town of Vestal October 3. The three women were charged with prostitution. The man was charged with “patronizing a prostitute.” His identity was included in news reports. Vestal Police said the sting was initiated as a result of information gathered from websites and social media associated with and/or used for prostitution activity.