40 Arrested in "Pre-Emptive" Internet Prostitution Sting

St. Cloud, Florida

A sting in St. Cloud ended last week with the arrests of 40 men and women in the city's first Internet prostitution operation, according to police.

"We wanted to make a pre-emptive strike, and it's been very successful," Police Chief Pete Gauntlett said Monday afternoon. "The word will rapidly get out to hookers and johns — 'Don't come to St. Cloud or we will arrest you.'"