EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to prostitution bust

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Newport News police are undercover and cracking down. Only 10 On Your Side was with the police department during a two day operation to kick prostitution out of the city, but prostitutes weren't the only target over the weekend.

Jefferson Avenue is one of the busiest streets in Newport News and it's the focus of a two day prostitution crackdown.

"We are continually flooded with calls from the citizens that live in the neighborhood about all the prostitutes that walk up and down the street and peddle their wares in their backyard, and they're always finding debris that's left behind after the prostitute and the john get together and it's actually disgusting to go back there and see some of the things that show up in peoples' backyards," says Captain Keith Hartman.

"A lot of this is 24 hours trade. They frequent the hotels up and down Jefferson Avenue. You see the prostitutes walking up and down day and night. It doesn't really matter what time."

Through 10 On Your Side's exclusive access to the police operation, we quickly learned Captain Keith Hartman is right of both prostitutes and the men who buy their services, called "johns." On the first day of the operation, female detectives and officers went undercover, posing as prostitutes in broad daylight.

"Can I do anything for you here? We're trying to make some money," said one of the undercovers to a man in a truck.

It didn't take long for them to make a deal and only 10 On Your Side was there as they lured the alleged john to the motel room.

"Police! Police," shouted the officers when the man walked into the hotel room.

Once the man was in custody, he was processed. That's when we confronted him.

"Why were you coming in the room with them?" asked 10 On Your Side's Katie Collett.
"Because they made me a deal," said Derius Jones, who police charged with soliciting a prostitute.
"What were you going to get out of the deal?" asked Collett.
"Well, they was like, we're going to get high, and...I ain't going to say nothing. This is crazy," says Jones.

Man after man fell for the undercover sale. After day one, 11 men were charged with misdemeanors or felonies for allegedly attempting to buy sex.

You may wonder why police targeted the johns in this investigation rather than only prostitutes. Hartman says the answer is simple. "When you do that, you're taking something home that you didn't walk out the door with that day. So, you're putting the lives of your family in danger when these guys come and solicit the prostitutes and have sex with them," said Hartman.

Day two of our exclusive investigation targeted real prostitutes as undercover male officers posed as johns. Sgt. James Paddleford says prostitution in the city must be stopped.

"It facilitates criminal activity such as drug use," says Paddleford.

Shortly after our ride with Paddleford began, the first alleged prostitute was quickly charged after allegedly requesting $20 to perform sex. When confronted by 10 On Your Side, she denied what the officer says happened.

"You say that you're not a prostitute," says Collett.
"Right," says Paula Cazados.
"Even though you offered him sexual favors."
"No ma'am."
"Why did you offer him that if that's not what you are?"
"I didn't."

As the sun set, more women hopped in the undercover's car and were quickly charged with prostitution. After day two of the operation, six women total were caught and accused of prostitution.

The final count of the two day operation includes 17 people charged with some alleged role in prostitution and two men charged with trespassing. Investigators refuse to stop there.

"We're trying to make a statement that we're not going to put up with the prostitution anywhere in the City of Newport News," says Paddleford.