24 arrested in NN prostitution sting

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - Newport News police say an undercover operation on Saturday night resulted in 24 people being charged with prostitution related offenses.

According to officials, members of the Newport News Police Department's Organized Crime Division used a website called www.backpage.com to contact suspected prostitutes and "johns" to arrange a meeting at an apartment located in the central area of the city. Once the suspects arrived and discussed the terms of the evening's activities, they were arrested and charged.

One of those arrested was a 17-year old female. According to police, three soldiers from Fort Eustis were among those charged in the operation. The operation lasted about 12 hours which averages out to two arrests per hour.

A list of those arrested along with the charges they face is below:

Samuel Akinsanya, 25, Brooklyn, New York - Aiding and Abetting Prostitution, Use of a Vehicle to Promote Prostitution, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

Martin Arnold, 43, Newport News - Solicitation of Prostitution and Possession of Marijuana

Terrence Bobbs, 39, Fort Eustis - Solicitation of Prostitution and Resisting Arrest

Brandon Campbell, 22, Hampton - Solicitation of Prostitution

Anthony Clemons, 40, Newport News - Solicitation of Prostitution

Mark Cox, 43, Hampton - Solicitation of Prostitution

Tracy Dobson, Newport News - Solicitation of Prostitution

Manuel Gonzalez, 25, Chesapeake - Solicitation of Prostitution

Arthur Gooden, 51, Hampton - Aiding and Abetting Prostitution and Use of a Vehicle to Promote Prostitution

Randy Green, 40, Chesapeake - Solicitation of Prostitution

Latiesha Hawkins, 19, Norfolk - Being a Prostitute and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

Victoria Heckstall, 20, Hampton - Being a Prostitute

David Kochersperger, 44, Solicitation of Prostitution

Laura Lewis, 40, Scottsdale, Arizona - Being a Prostitute

Harry Mageras, 48, Williamsburg - Solicitation of Prostitution

Marc Pinto, 42, Virginia Beach - Solicitation of Prostitution

Adam Presgraves, 31, Newport News - Solicitation of Prostitution (two counts)

Anthony Royal, 26, Newport News - Solicitation of Prostitution

Troy Taft, 45, Fort Eustis, - Solicitation of Prostitution

Jeffrey Tobin, 24, Fort Eustis - Solicitation of Prostitution

Robert Wagner, 45, Hampton - Solicitation of Prostitution

Kiara Ward, 20, Memphis, Tennessee - Being a Prostitute (two counts)

Stanley Ware, 39, Hampton - Solicitation of Prostitution

Seventeen-year-old Norfolk female - Being a Prostitute