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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Police Department
Mike Ceynowa, Chief of Police
2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
DATE: 12/7/2012
SUBJECT: Local law enforcement officials arrest five in undercover prostitution operation
BY: DPD Public Information Officer Jim Hansen 218-390-2232
NATURE OF INCIDENT: Local law enforcement officials arrest five in undercover prostitution operation
CASE NO.:
INCIDENT DATE: 12/7/2012
INCIDENT TIME:
INCIDENT LOCATION: Duluth, mn
SUBJECT: Local law enforcement officials arrest five in undercover prostitution operation
BY: DPD Public Information Officer Jim Hansen 218-390-2232
NATURE OF INCIDENT: Local law enforcement officials arrest five in undercover prostitution operation
CASE NO.:
INCIDENT DATE: 12/7/2012
INCIDENT TIME:
INCIDENT LOCATION: Duluth, mn
Local law enforcement officials arrest five in undercover prostitution operation
On December 6, 2012 members of the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Duluth Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted an undercover operation targeting suspects who are using the website Backpage.com to advertise prostitution services. Suspects involved in this activity commonly post ads under the “Escorts” section of the website.
The Duluth Police Department and Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force have received numerous complaints from the public about illegal prostitution activities occurring on Backpage.com.
Three women were arrested in connection with this operation and charged with Prostitution in a Public Place, a gross misdemeanor offense in Minnesota. The three women all had ads posted on Backpage.com advertising prostitution services. All three women were booked into the St. Louis County Jail and have been released pending further investigation.
After responding to ads on Backpage.com, two men who were seeking prostitution services were also arrested. The two men have been identified as Brandon Jay LaFave (DOB 02/20/89) and Frankie Louis Curtis (DOB 10/12/76). LaFave and Curtis were lodged at the St. Louis County Jail and have been formally charged in St. Louis County district court with Solicitation of Prostitution in a Public Place.
Brandon LaFave
Frankie Curtis