(all names xxxx's out in public media reports no personal info per TER requirements never included arrested names just public officials in named in media/ap reports  In Phoenix bust only reported her as "she" originally)

FBI's October 2017 Operation Cross Country apparently started last Thursday 10/5.  For example, five women in Harrison Cty West Virginia ages 20-41 arrested for prostitution from ads on websites.  "The FBI is likely to release more information on the nationwide initiative sometime next week."  

The propaganda purpose is to recover underage victims of prostitution. The initiative also is aimed at getting the public to think about the problem of sex trafficking in the United States and elsewhere, according to a prior news release on the FBI’s website.

In reality, the "saving" prostitutes by arresting them have always been primarily arresting in private consenting adults. LE either responds to ads placed by women or plants fake ads that attract "johns" who are arrested when they show up at her hotel.

In Phoenix, one woman was arrested 10/4/2017. However, I believe this case is not related to the national FBI operation.  

ABC15 News reports that Phoenix Police were investigating her after receiving tips that her business, located near 28th Street and Greenway Road, wasn't offering massages but was actually offering sexual acts (like hand releases).  In May, detectives started conducting undercover operations.  On multiple occasions, detectives would pay $140 or $160 for a massage, and (she) would walk into the massage room in the nude. She would ask the detectives if they were law enforcement, and would then discuss her rates and services for sexual acts.  

Police also encountered a customer who had walked away from the business after the woman had also walked into the room without wearing any clothing on "scaring him."  (She) was arrested in October, five months after the investigation began, and booked into the 4th Avenue Jail.  

(She) faces two charges of maintaining a house of prostitution, manifesting intent to commit prostitution and a prostitution charge.   Usually, an indictment then adds more felony charges other than on the direct complaint for the arrest.

I continue to hope the lack of other recent arrests might be the result of our new Chief of Police perhaps deciding not to go after "pretend victims" to "save" from in private consenting adults.   The FBI report to come will probably list the cities involved.  In the last one, there were no arrests in Phoenix, but about 50 men were "deterred" instead of arrested by warnings sent when responded to ads.  

The October 4th massage arrest seems to have been based on a complaint, maybe by the guy scared by a naked body instead of the usual let's round up "pretend victims" of the past in Phoenix.

On the positive side, the 9th Circuit oral arguments challenged the prostitution law is coming up on October 19th.  There will be a press conference afterward which might attract national media attention.  

Further D.C. Could Become Only U.S. City to Decriminalize Prostitution arguing that decriminalization is needed for harm reduction and human rights:  
A new bill would remove all criminal penalties in the District for buying or selling sex.
Oct. 5, 2017, Reason.com -   Will Washington, D.C. buck national trends and actually take a stand for sex-worker rights and safety? It will if politician xxxxxxxx gets his way. The at-large councilmember has just introduced a bill to decriminalize prostitution in the District.

"I do not think the criminalization of sex workers has worked for the District of Columbia," xxxx told DCist. "Arresting our way out of the problem is not the solution. The approach should be a harm reduction and human rights approach."

The "Reducing Criminalization to Promote Public Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2017" would amend D.C.'s criminal code to make both the selling and the buying of sex legal. It's co-sponsored by At-large Councilmember xxxx

xxxxx's bill would do several specific things:
Repeal the 1935 bill requiring "for the suppression of prostitution in the District of Columbia," thereby removing criminal penalties for engaging in or soliciting prostitution. Abolish the city's Anti-Prostitution Vehicle Impoundment Proceeds program and fund Repeal prohibitions on procuring someone for prostitution, operating a house of prostitution, or operating a "place used for the purpose of lewdness, assignation, or prostitution."

It would also repeal D.C.'s prohibition on "pandering" (i.e., placing, causing, inducing, enticing, procuring, or compelling someone somewhere "with the intent that such individual shall engage in prostitution"), because any elements of "pandering" involving force or juveniles are covered by the city's law against compelling prostitution, and would amend the compelling prostitution statute to include bans on detaining or compelling someone "to marry the abductor or to marry any other person."

The legislation would create a temporary task force "to study and make recommendations regarding the removal of criminal penalties and providing supports for individuals engaging in commercial sex" and issue a report on what it finds. The task force would include members of D.C. government, public health professionals, sex workers ("and people profiled as sex workers"), and nonprofits that provide services to people in the commercial sex industry.

xxxxx pointed out in DCist that his approach is supported by health and human-rights groups like Amnesty International and the World Health Organization, and said he hopes his colleagues keep an open mind. "It's about treating people with dignity, respect, and love, over whatever they were taught in church or whatever hangups they have about sex."

-- Modified on 10/9/2017 3:53:14 AM