It doesn't matter which party is in power election years tend to bring extra hobby hostile efforts. It is in the interest of whichever local party is in power to get anti "crime" press releases flowing in the run up to the election.

The only difference between Reps and Dems is that the Rep social conservatives are better at being hypocritical.

From the Washington Post:

"Four Rockville massage parlor operators have been charged with using their businesses as fronts to conduct prostitution or human trafficking, according to Montgomery County Police.

The investigation was launched in September after authorities noticed an increase in advertisements for acupressure businesses and massage parlors on websites, Montgomery County Police said. Police said they conducted searches of six Rockville businesses and filed charges against operators of four of those establishments.

xxx operator of xxx, was charged in a warrant with human trafficking and conducting prostitution, police said. xxx, operator of xxx, and xxx, operator of xxx, each are charged with human trafficking and conducting prostitution. And xxx Spa owner xxx has been charged with conducting prostitution."

Names deleted to protect the innocent!

I doubt the two are related. One is local LE and the other is the Feds. Even though some would like to think they work together, I think doubtful.

We know Montgomery County has been active for some time. They shut down the AMPs several years ago and recently were working on other areas. The other case involves different nationalities and federal charges including racketeering. Most of the investigation was in Virginia.

My hunch is that it was just a coincidence but certainly not a time to let your guard down.

When you consider that it is  election year. LE will get hot this year, and then will relax once elections are over. We should still all hobby, but exercise extra extra caution.

one polictical party is more focused on Prostitution and human trafficing than the other? I think this is more of a local issue. Most likely local complaints/tips trigger these investigations.

I know that's conventional wisdom, but every other year is an election year, and some states, such as VA, have elections on "non-election years". I must confess I can't see a pattern.

They search out ethnic AMPs. They ask hobbyists to be informants but they don't pay enough.

"Even though some would like to think they work together, I think doubtful"

I'll try to be more timely with my information in the future..........

Sheesh!