Members of the Sparks and Reno Police Departments’ Regional Street Enforcement Team (SET) conducted a prostitution operation focusing on downtown Reno. The focus of the operation was designed to target the customers of prostitution or the demand portion.
SET said it believes that impacting sex trafficking/exploitation begins with an aggressive campaign against the demand for illegal prostitution. Often the females who engage in prostitution are introduced at a young age and are frequently being exploited or trafficked by a physically controlling individual. Although statistics vary from study to study, researchers believe the average age of a female trafficked and introduced into prostitution is 12-14 years old.
SET has recovered several sex trafficking victims between the ages of 12-16 from the streets of Reno, each of the past several years. SET said it believes the supply of exploited victims will decrease if the demand can be impacted and reduced by conducting frequent operations.
During the operation, which lasted approximately six hours, seven men were issued a citation for soliciting an undercover officer for sex in exchange for money. The bail/fine for solicitation for prostitution is $500. The Washoe County Health Department was also present to perform statute-mandated HIV testing to the subjects cited.
The men cited are:
- Michael Crown, Reno resident, 50 years old
- Enrique Gallegos-Aguilera, Fallon resident, 33 years old
- Francisco Caralampio-Jaimez, Truckee, Calif. resident, 36 years old
- Gabriel Alcaras-Lopez, Reno resident, 42 years old
- Adebowale Esan, Reno resident, 34 years old
- Mohammed Selim, Reno resident, 51 years old
- Louis Burgarello, Sparks resident, 75 years old
SET would like to remind residents and visitors to Reno that all forms of prostitution are illegal in Reno, Sparks and Washoe County. Prostitution, outside of a licensed brothel, is illegal everywhere in Nevada.
SET is comprised of detectives from the Reno Police Department and Sparks Police Department.
