Stings

Sex Crimes

Plymouth County Keeps Puritanism Alive With Bogus Sex Trafficking Stings

Five men face "trafficking a person for sexual servitude" charges after meeting an undercover cop at a hotel.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 8.18.2021 11:15 AM

Immigration

ICE Scam Leads to Student Deportations 

The latest sting went to elaborate lengths to target students themselves instead of illicit pay-to-stay visa mills.

Shikha Dalmia | 3.12.2020 6:00 AM

Occupational Licensing

Undercover Cops Hired 118 Handymen, Then Arrested Them All for Not Having Licenses

Undercover sheriff's deputies posing as homeowners hired handymen to paint, install recessed lighting, or do other tasks that require licenses. Then they arrested them.

Christian Britschgi | 2.5.2020 4:20 PM

Civil Liberties

The FBI Rebrands Its Sex Worker Harassment Campaign 

Operation Independence Day is just Operation Cross Country by a different name.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 10.28.2019 6:00 AM

Reason Roundup

FOSTA's First Test Targets Cloud Company Used by Backpage

Plus: a Robert Kraft/spa-sting update, Florida sex-buyer registry nixed, D.C. activist alleges entrapment, and more sex-work and sex-policy news.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.28.2019 9:30 AM

Sex

The Feds Keep Arresting Sex Workers

How "trafficking" stings ensnare consenting adult women

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 1.1.2018 12:00 PM

Operation Cross Country

American Sex Police

With sweeping "sex trafficking stings," the FBI returns to its roots as the nation's vice squad.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.14.2017 6:00 AM