Miami Beach Police engaging in undercover stings

[Guest christopherusa]

I've hesitated to post this information out of frustration and the humiliation of what happened to me but in the spirit of "professional courtesy" I thought I would make aware to anyone who lives, works or travels to Miami Beach, FL that the special investigative unit of the Miami Beach police department is cracking down on prostitution occurring at the hotels. I, along with several other working guys and girls were arrested on a Friday evening last month by way of a sting operation set up in a hotel room at the Delano Hotel and wound up spending the weekend in Dade County jail as a result. The police are posing as potential clients looking for incall service and are contacting by phone/text anyone who advertises on the internet via Craigslist, the Back Page, Rentboy, Adam4Adam, etc. I would advise any of my working brothers to be wary of doing any outcalls to the hotels on the beach and possibly Miami, or even Ft. Lauderdale, should the police in Broward County decide to emulate what the Miami Beach police are doing. I'm not sure why they are doing this since the Beach Police have more to do than go after working boys and girls, but it may be that the hotels are afraid of any bad publicity which could affect their already slow business should something go array, like what happened earlier in the year with the psycho med student who killed his victims in Boston hotels. Whatever the reason is, it is an unpleasant and expensive thing to deal with should it happen to you, so take warning and use your best judgement!!

[Guest Merlin]

Thank you for the info. Could you give us a few more details? I assume that the cop tried to pin you down in the phone call, that you were willing to pay a specific amount and perform a specific act. Am I correct? When you arrived at the room, I assume that before anything happened, he again tried to commit you to specific acts for a specific amount? Did he try to pay you immediately? I assume he avoided physical contact or undressing on his part?

[Romann]

Christopherusa-

 

First off, welcome to the MB!

 

Secondly, THANK YOU for posting this very important message and warning about Miami and the surrounding areas concerning the sting operations that are going on there and honestly, in a number of other major cities within the United States. I posted a very similar warning about the Boston area a week or two ago about how the local police were organizing and performing sting operations at well known hotels so this serves as another testament that this kind of thing is happening in major cities and something that all of us should concern ourselves with. While I agree that there are better things for the police departments to be spending their time on, I also understand that this (sting operations and subsequent busts) are being highlighted because of the well known murder of a female escort in Boston 3 or 4 months ago (poor girl) in Boston which happened from listings on Craigslist but it's not localized just to that site.

 

Could you please offer all of us details about how you were contacted, the conversations had via phone, text and/or email that could help us all in the future so that we can keep our ears and eyes perked. Any detail would greatly be appreciated!

 

Thank you again for posting this most valuable information for all of us as it's nice to see that we are looking out for one another by making such postings to warn others - much appreciated!

 

I'm very sorry to hear that you were involved in the mentioned sting operation in Miami and I do hope that you were at least treated well and that your nightmare came to a conclusion as quickly as possible. My heart goes out to you and I hope that you can recover from this bad experience.

[Guest christopherusa]

Details and a word of thanks...

 

I'm happy to help anyone out by putting the word out and certainly appreciate your kind words. Being arrested and spending a weekend in jail is not a pleasant experience, particularly in Dade County, where they do not treat you well. Unfortunately, I'm not going to go into specific details about what happened to me as my case is pending.

 

What I will share is that many of the things we know not to do on calls do not necessarily mean anything once you've been caught. For example: I did not discuss engaging in specific acts for any amount with the undercover officer, either by phone or in person after arriving at the hotel room. I was asked what "$xxx would get me" and I explained how much time I would spend for that amount. The undercover officer presented the $xxx shortly after arriving but I did not physically accept it (they placed it on a table). The officer did not disrobe, but did touch me (as were several of the other people who were caught) after I was asked to take off my pants. The entire operation was being monitored on a hidden camera by additional participating officers in the adjacent room of the hotel.

 

At the end of the day, it does not matter what was done or said because if you are advertising yourself online, you show up and money is exchanged, you are presumed guilty of soliciting prostitution. Keep in mind that going to jail after being arrested on the spot is NOT the end of it. After you post bond and are released you still have to hire an attorney (or have one appointed to you by the court) to defend yourself in court against the charge. If you choose to fight the charge, you will have to prove to the court and/or judge that you are not guilty. This is not easy to do when the Police have printed out your ad from wherever you advertised online and it is their word against yours. Several of the things that the officer wrote in the report about what went down were inaccurate and not true, but it is impossible for me to prove that in a court of law since the courts side with Police testimony. If you elect to do a trial by jury, you can imagine what the jurors will think about you knowing that you are living an alternative lifestyle and engaging in what is still considered to be a socially unacceptable way to make a living. Think about it.

 

Bottom line, if you suspect something is not right or you get a weird vibe with a potential client, go with your gut feeling and politely pass on meeting with them. Keep in mind that we get compensated not just for our time spent with clients, but with the risk that is associated with it! Peace to all.

[Guest EuropTravl]

The Delano!

 

I find it fascinating this happened in the uber-cool Delano. I've stayed there quite often and dealt with the attitude. You know, if they're going to do a hotel sting, good for you Miami PD for not going after only the poor schleps at Holiday Inn.

[Guest RianB]

Whaaat???? That is crazy!

 

Christopher I can imagine what that was like. Having dealt with the Miami (city, not county) cops I know they are straight up assholes. And let something bad happen to us, we end up being accused of being a criminal and/or making up a false story. I had a friend cited for prostituting on Washington, but he wasnt even doing that...just walking around with his shirt pulled up, and another friend I was told awhile back got popped at one of the beach hotels, after the officer fucked her. They are shiesty!

 

Maybe it has to do with off season? Because the Delano, for those who dont know happens to host alot of celebrity parties. So thats just crazy. And someone mentioned here the other day about stings mainly taking place at only shabby hotels, well there you go. You just never know.

 

Although I never had any run ins with the Miami Beach Police (I heard they are equally assholes) I know it must have been something else. Thanks for sharing the tips.

[Guest Merlin]

Thanks, that was helpful. Do not assume that the court or jury always side with the cop. Tell your side of the story. If others say the cop lied, it may begin to have an effect.

I think that without your oral agreement on the phone or in the room, they have a weak case. They may win but it is not a strong as it could be.

I do not know how serious the punishment is in FLA, but I suggest you at least talk to the public defender or appointed attorney before you make a decision. Of course a private criminal atty would be much better and the first conferency should not be too expensive.

[+ newatthis]

An escort I know makes it a practice to grab his client as soon he meets him and give him a deep (very deep!) kiss. I was somewhat disconcerted when he did this to me in the elevator on the way to his room and asked why. He replied that it was a great deterrent to cops.

 

I have no idea if this really works or not. Perhaps he will chime in here if he sees this.

[Guest RianB]

An escort I know makes it a practice to grab his client as soon he meets him and give him a deep (very deep!) kiss. I was somewhat disconcerted when he did this to me in the elevator on the way to his room and asked why. He replied that it was a great deterrent to cops.

 

I have no idea if this really works or not. Perhaps he will chime in here if he sees this.

 

 

 

where was this? Im not sure it'd work with those homophob south beach cops, but Im curious anyway LOL

[Guest christopherusa]

Responses to comments...

 

where was this? Im not sure it'd work with those homophob south beach cops, but Im curious anyway LOL

 

It would not have worked, and to be honest that is one of the more ridiculous things I have heard.

To be fair, not all of the Miami Beach police are homophobic. In fact, there were a few of them who were sympathetic to what I was going through. They are just doing their job, which in the eyes of the general public is very positive, regardless of how those of us in the working world feel about it.

 

Thanks, that was helpful. Do not assume that the court or jury always side with the cop. Tell your side of the story. If others say the cop lied, it may begin to have an effect.

I think that without your oral agreement on the phone or in the room, they have a weak case. They may win but it is not a strong as it could be.

I do not know how serious the punishment is in FLA, but I suggest you at least talk to the public defender or appointed attorney before you make a decision. Of course a private criminal atty would be much better and the first conferency should not be too expensive.

 

I have, at my expense, retained one of the best criminal attorneys in South Florida to handle my case. Although you may mean well, with all due respect, you do not know what you are talking about. Prostitution charges are taken seriously in Dade County due to the history of it taking place and the problems that are sometimes associated with it such as drugs, alcohol and violence. The County has tried very hard over the years to clean up its shady image which was fueled by the tv show Miami Vice in the 80s and CSI: Miami, among others, as of recent. The party-ish, hip, cool, glamorous image of Miami Beach and Miami are totally at odds with how the Police departments and the county commissioners feel about it, which is to say they do not like it - even if brings in revenue and pays their salaries. There really is no other major source of revenue or jobs in Dade County other than those relating to the tourism industries, so they do not want something negative to happen that would tarnish things further. A perfect example of this was in the late 90s when several German tourists were robbed and killed, mostly by criminals who would bump them from behind when they were in their rental cars and then rob and attack them when they got out of their vehicles. Needless to say, word traveled quickly to Europe, and the influx of foreign tourists dropped dramatically after that. 'Nuff said.

[Guest zipperzone]

First we get a warning re Boston. Then there is the case of Joesph in Atlanta which is very similar to this. Now Miami - Could it be that this is an Eastern Seaboard thing?

[Guest RianB]

To be fair, not all of the Miami Beach police are homophobic. In fact, there were a few of them who were sympathetic to what I was going through. They are just doing their job, which in the eyes of the general public is very positive, regardless of how those of us in the working world feel about it.

 

hmmm, guess they are different from the ones in the city. I just doubt the general public sees either one of the Miami Police as some kind of beacon to harmony. Its just hard to take them seriously.

 

I think the sympathy came from the fact that Miami citizens are aware how common it is down there to the point where deep down inside, they know its ridiculous to be illegal.

[+ newatthis]

where was this? Im not sure it'd work with those homophob south beach cops, but Im curious anyway LOL

 

It happened in Chicago, but he told me he did this whenever he had an appt with a client he hadn't met before.

 

I think his reasoning was that a truly homophobic cop would flinch in some way from a French kiss and give himself away, and that the kiss, in and of itself in a situation where no money had been exchanged, would not be evidence. (I think he made a point of meeting new clients in the hotel lobby and doing this in the elevator or other private place before they reached his room.)

 

I can see that it might not work if the cop was willing to lie (or if he enjoyed it ).

[Doug69]

Christopherusa, where can one see your ads? Although you joined in March 2007, this was your first posting here and a lot of what you say does not add up. You say "I've hesitated to post this information" but you have never posted anything here at all before this thread, including no travel post about your trip to Miami. There is also no record of any "prostitution" arrests at the Delano Hotel "on a Friday evening last month" and nothing was reported in the news. Where can one find more information to substantiate your claims?

[Guest Merlin]

We wish you well Christopher. Perhaps at some point you will feel confortable coming back and telling us what, if anything, we as clients or escorts can do to reduce the risk. I know it can never be completely safe.

[BearDad58]

I have to agree with Doug69 as almost none of this adds up. The key for any police dept doing a sting is publicity, in other words get the word out so other escorts will think twice about escorting in the city the sting was done in.

 

There are two sites in particular that keep track of all escort related stings across the USA and post them daily. There is nothing about any sting in Miami on either of them. The web address for the sites are at the bottom of this post.

 

It's almost unheard of for a high class hotel to let the police conduct a sting operation in their hotel. This holds true even more so for the Delano as they cater to a extremely high end clientèle, many who would be completely turned off if they thought the hotel was letting the police use rooms for sordid sting operations.

 

If you read the reports of the various sting operations around the country on the web sites below, you will always see stings conducted in lower end hotel properties. In addition its almost always female escorts and from Craigslist. I have never heard of any ads targeting Rentboy, Adam4Adam, etc although it wouldn't surprise me.

 

However there is no reason for a real escort who advertises on Rentboy, etc to come on here and make up a wild story like that. So if Christopher can at least provide us links to his Rentboy and other on line ad's, then I would believe him.

 

In addition to escorts and clients, I am sure there are law enforcement types who read this board, and maybe even have joined as well as people who just think escorting is bad in general. It could be that one of these people are posing as a escort with this wild story to scare off escorts from Miami Beach. If thats the case I would think this "poster" needs to get a life.

 

http://www.prostitutionsucks.com/

 

http://www.crimene.ws/search/label/craigscrimelist/index.php?frontpage

[Guest Adrian Hart]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I cant imagine how hard that would be to deal with and it's something that always is in the back of my mind. I realize that making a living is the basis of this business, however, we have to take precautions that may lose us some business in order to avoid situations like this. For me it has always been a rule to do in-calls with new clients whether at home or visiting a city. I will not do an outcall for the very reason you shared. It's not worth the risk to do that. If I know the client and have visited them before I have no issue but if not I kindly tell them they are welcome to see me in my hotel. Nine times out of ten they will opt to come see me rather than scrap the opportunity altogether. It's worth it for me to lose the client rather than sit in jail and have a record. I have not had any legal issues to date and I intend on keeping it that way.

 

On another note I have advice for all escorts regardless of whether you have been arrested or not. OBTAIN A LAWYER NOW! Memorize the name and number and have a consult with them so that if god forbid anything happens you arent left wondering who to call. It normally doesn't cost anything unless you use them. I did it years ago and I feel secure knowing a legal entity knows me and my business and knows how to handle it if something goes wrong. Erring on the side of caution is always the right thing to do.

 

all the best, Adrian Hart

[Guest Merlin]

Hi Adam. I would be very reluctant to go to an escorts home. The police stings I have read about involve the cop calling the client or escort to come to him, either at a hotel or apartment, with cops in another room recording. The cop going to the hotel room or apartment does not generate evidence (recordings, witnesses) as well and is more time consuming. Also, in a strange city driving around to find the escort is something I as a client would avoid. So, an escort who insisted that I come to him would sound alarm bells, and I would simply not go.

You of course are entitled to your own rules and I don't disagree with you but I would not hire you under those circumstances.

[Guest Merlin]

Bear Dad. While I believe Christopher is telling the truth, I was very surprised when he said that the police made no attempt to get him commited to sex for money, either on the phone or in the apartment. That is the crux of their case, so why would they not make some attempt to improve their case?

Based on what he says, however, one lesson for escorts is to avoid making advertisements which expressly commit them to sex for money. and then to avoid clients who are too agressive in getting that commitment on the phone or in the hotel room.

When I call and escort I usually say I want to "meet" him and do not ask what he will do. If he has not advertised the fee and does not volunteer it, I would ask. But if he were aggressive in specifiying what he will do and getting me commited to money, I would be leary.

Notice, he says the client paid him immediately when he went to the room. That also should set the alarms off. What client would do that and why? I usually have the money available but not in sight. I am wary of escorts who want money up front.

I have never actually had the problem. But I have sometimes avoided calling escorts whose ads are new and who seem too good to be true. I assume a cop will not use his real photo, but will use someone else's and probably choose an extremely good looking guy. And he will be explicit about sex for money.

[Kevin Slater]

However there is no reason for a real escort who advertises on Rentboy, etc to come on here and make up a wild story like that.

 

There's every reason for an escort to make up a wild story like that. In fact, last week half a dozen of my friends were busted for escorting in NYC, specifically Chelsea. The cops seemed to be targeting big dicked tops, too, so I whole-heartedly advise guys who might fit into that category to work elsewhere. They might want to avoid Lauderdale, too, especially today and again from November 13 to 17.

 

Kevin Slater

[Romann]

It simply amazes me how acts of kindness are just tossed back in the face of others on here. Instead of just thanking the poster for the information (whether you believe it or not) and moving forward, others choose to make the poster the bad guy instead of just reading the information, interpreting it for yourself and moving on to the next poster and thread to bash and trash. While there have been a number of supportive posters in this thread concerning this issue, there are those that are not and only add to the reason why more and more people quit posting on this site and others.

 

A very simple message was being delivered... keep your ears perked, watch carefully and listen to your gut instinct on matters like this. If your mind and heart are in conflict, go with what is right for you. If something (client or escort request) appears to sketchy, make the appropriate choice in accepting or kindly turning down the request. Christopher wasn't saying "Don't come to this city" but instead, "please be careful" which is a lot more than other posters say on this MB. What ever happened to "Thank you for the information" and just leave it at that instead of making him out to be some sort of liar, cop or whatever... No one else was there to see what transpired so I don't see what all the mud slinging is about from certain people (but not all in this thread) who can't even toss the guy a bone and simply say, "Thank you" before they trash him and again, make him look like the bad guy.

 

The lesson that I'm seeing from some is (based on a handful of the responses that I'm reading) keep information to yourself, watch only your own back and toss everyone else under the buss - a few times if necessary. Simply amazing but in the end, just sad.

 

I can already hear the sound of knives sharpening while typing up this response. Please, just make sure that you at least wipe off the knife before you attempt to stick it in my back.

[Romann]

So many cases like this get tossed out of court because the police screw up their busts and hopefully, with some luck and justice, Christopher too will have his case tossed out in the streets and into the gutters where it belongs along with all the other police blunders.

 

I'm sending good thoughts to him and wish him the best through this ordeal and invite others to do the same whether they agree with him or not.

 

You make some very good points and ones that we should all remind ourselves of each and every time. For that, THANK YOU for sharing those thoughtful tips with all of us as I know that they're much appreciated on my end.

 

Bear Dad. While I believe Christopher is telling the truth, I was very surprised when he said that the police made no attempt to get him commited to sex for money, either on the phone or in the apartment. That is the crux of their case, so why would they not make some attempt to improve their case?

Based on what he says, however, one lesson for escorts is to avoid making advertisements which expressly commit them to sex for money. and then to avoid clients who are too agressive in getting that commitment on the phone or in the hotel room.

When I call and escort I usually say I want to "meet" him and do not ask what he will do. If he has not advertised the fee and does not volunteer it, I would ask. But if he were aggressive in specifiying what he will do and getting me commited to money, I would be leary.

Notice, he says the client paid him immediately when he went to the room. That also should set the alarms off. What client would do that and why? I usually have the money available but not in sight. I am wary of escorts who want money up front.

I have never actually had the problem. But I have sometimes avoided calling escorts whose ads are new and who seem too good to be true. I assume a cop will not use his real photo, but will use someone else's and probably choose an extremely good looking guy. And he will be explicit about sex for money.

[Guest andrewd]

Hmmm...

 

There's every reason for an escort to make up a wild story like that. In fact, last week half a dozen of my friends were busted for escorting in NYC, specifically Chelsea. The cops seemed to be targeting big dicked tops, too, so I whole-heartedly advise guys who might fit into that category to work elsewhere. They might want to avoid Lauderdale, too, especially today and again from November 13 to 17.

 

Kevin Slater

 

Mr. Slater,

 

Can't quite put my finger on it, it's right on the tip of my tongue, and yet it escapes me, butt that description sounds very familiar. I just can't place to whom you may be referencing? God, it's so close. It's right there, but I can't pull it up.

 

Ohhhhh. Wait a minute! Are you intimating that someone may be trying to scare off other escorts from a particular market in which they are intending to visit to limit the pool somewhat ? Such as your upcoming trip to Fla? You sneaky, naughty boy!

[Romann]

It's a conspiracy!

 

First we get a warning re Boston. Then there is the case of Joesph in Atlanta which is very similar to this. Now Miami - Could it be that this is an Eastern Seaboard thing?

[BearDad58]

Well if Christopher is truly a escort then I don't see any harm in him coming out and saying where his ads are. The fact he has never posted any ads before this makes one wonder as he joined the board 2 years ago. A lot of things about his story just didn't make sense, so I was only drawing attention to that and agreeing with Doug69 who wondered why Christopher never mentioned where his ads were or offered any proof that he ever escorted.

 

Now when a established poster like Kevin Slater comes on and says the police made several arrests in NYC recently, then I would naturally believe that. He said they happened last week so I am curious as to the details. Were the escorts in question busted from Craigslist or Rentboy, or were they hustling on the street or in bookstores or bars. I would think all of the NYC escorts would be very interested in this sort of info.

 

I am also curious as to why he says avoid Ft Lauderdale today and from Nov 13-17. Does he have any inside info regarding vice stings that are happening today will be happening on those specific dates in November?

 

Back to the subject of Miami Beach, I have heard in the past the police did conduct various stings at a hotel in Miami Beach called the ""Newport Beach Side Resort" on Collins Ave. I don't remember if they were escort stings or involved drugs or other targets. I just did a bit or research on that hotel and came up with some very interesting info.

 

This November the North Miami Beach police dept is hosting a seminar/training program for police from all over the country on "Advanced Vice and Narcotics Investigations". The web link below will cover in detail everything covered in the courses but here is a brief recap.

 

****************************************

 

This is a special five day (32 hour) training program designed for Law Enforcement Investigators, Vice Investigators, Narcotics Investigators and Patrol Officers who participate in street level enforcement and Undercover Vice/ Narcotics operations. Prostitution and Narcotics activity are every day problems that affect entire communities. The curriculum will cover how to successfully conduct street level prostitution and narcotics stings. Decoy officer safety techniques will be covered, which will show how to keep your female officers safe during undercover investigations.

 

Don’t miss this training opportunity!

 

Class Program

 

Tactical Narcotics Techniques Enforcement

Undercover Street Level Narcotics Reverses

Conducting Safe Prostitution Stings

Decoy and Undercover Officer Safety Issues

Investigating Human Trafficking Organizations

Investigating Juvenile Prostitution Rings

Massage Parlor Investigations

Escort Investigations

Successful Strip Club Investigations Working Clubs and Raid Operation Techniques

Sneak and Peek Warrants on Massage Parlors

Investigative & Surveillance Techniques

RICO Violations on businesses

Undercover Storefront Operations

Long term street level investigations

Ethics and Legal Issues Underground Pit Bull Fighting Investigations

Internet Investigations and Child Predators

 

Additional Topics to be announced soon!

 

*****************************************

 

The most interesting part of all this is they recommend the Newport Beach Side resort as its just a few miles from the "training center". Here is the exact quote from the web page.

 

************************************

 

Training classes will be held at the North Miami Beach Police Department training center. Due to the specialized content of this training course, seating is very limited. Students will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

 

The recommended hotel is the Newport Beach Side Resort located in Sunny Isles Beach. The hotel is approximately 3 miles from the training center. The Newport is offering a rate of $79.00 per night. Book rooms under the LETA VICE Conference code at 305-949-1300. The North Miami Beach Police Department and the hotel are both located between Miami International and Fort Lauderdale International airports.

 

**************************************

 

Below is the web page outlining all the details for the "conference" which is to take place

November 2-6. If I was a escort in Miami, I sure as hell would avoid any calls to that hotel especially during the dates of the conference LOL

 

http://www.uctraining.net/leta_class_ngi.htm