More than 20 arrested in St. George prostitution ring

Published: Monday, June 9, 2008 2:56 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
ST. GEORGE — A prostitution ring was dismantled over the weekend, as Washington County and federal law enforcement officers arrested more than 20 people.

Francisco Aceves-Bedolla, 24, and Silverio Flores-Mendez, 33, were booked into the Washington County Jail on Friday for investigation of exploiting prostitutes.

The Las Vegas men appear to be the heads of the operation, and would make trips to St. George looking to solicit women as prostitutes, said Miguel Estrada, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements agent in charge for St. George.

Men in Washington County would be "contacted via a phone call, at which point arrangements would be made for the prostitutes to come to St. George from Las Vegas," he said.

Estrada said ICE officials became involved in the ring when a tip led them to believe human trafficking might be involved in the operation. At this point, investigators don't believe that is the case, Estrada said.

The investigation all but wrapped up Friday, when ICE agents, along with the St. George Police Department and the Washington County Drug and Gang Task Force, took 21 people into custody.

Story continues below
A pair of Las Vegas women were arrested on suspicion of prostitution, and nine Washington County men were arrested for solicitation.

The remaining eight people — all Mexican nationals — were taken into custody by ICE officials on immigration violations, according to the St. George Police Department.

Recent comments

First of all, the whole "anything that is consensual should be legal"...

RE: CitizenX & Me | June 9, 2008 at 11:52 p.m.

with the fact that they spent the money to get these people in jail....

I'm fine | June 9, 2008 at 11:36 p.m.

Do you not understand the simple fundamentals of moral law. You...

Citizenx, when will you learn | June 9, 2008 at 9:49 p.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Misplaced focus

Seems to me that the economy, health care, etc have gotten plenty of notice....

WOW!! Seeing the lack of diplomacy and maturity in these blogs, as well as...

Utah swine-flu deaths at 14

Oh, I'm sorry, I guess I should have been more specific. I was not talking...

Single-payer system best

Oh my. Government destroys our health care system and now people want them to...

As a Democrat, I hope that Chaffetz challenges Bennett so that all of Utah...

A despicable method

The Taliban are very bad and clearly training terrorists. That's why we...

It was Woodland when my grandfather was born there, and that was a long time...

The only explanation needed will be the empty green seats and the dramatic...

I'd rather look at wind turbines than breathe polluted air caused by the...

House passes bill to boost food stamp spending

Conservatives oppose Food Stamps, is that what they mean by "family values"...

Advertisements