A dozen people face criminal charges after they allegedly went to a local hotel to answer online ads for prostitution.
"Undercover officers utilized advertisements on websites popular with individuals engaged in prostitution," said a statement from the Iowa Department of Public Safety. "When suspects responded to the ads, undercover officers arranged meetings with them at the Isle of Capri Bettendorf Hotel.
Police said they worked with management of the Isle of Capri to use rooms in the hotel to conduct the sting operation Wednesday and Thursday, September 3 and 4, 2014.
The location was chosen because of the "enhanced surveillance capabilities of the facility."
Twelve people were arrested and charged in connection with the sting:
Cassandra Diaz, 25, was charged with prostitution
Aaron Jorge Diaz, 38, was charged with pandering
Kayla Jean Hobert, 24, was charged with prostitution
Amanda M. Schepler, 31, was charged with prostitution
Stephen Matthew Jones, 24, was charged with aiding and abetting prostitution
Heather Mae Lundy, 24, was charged with prostitution and she had an outstanding warrant for 3rd-degree theft
Lonnie Dean Britt, 51, was charged with prostitution, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to deliver
Ray Canada, 64, was charged with prostitution
Robert Allan Richards, 55, was charged with prostitution and possession with intent to deliver
Michael W. Sanderson, 41, was charged with prostitution
Leonel B. Rubio, 41, was charged with prostitution
The operation involved state, county and local law enforcement agencies including Bettendorf Police, Marion Police, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Scott County Sheriff's Office, Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
