Escorts in NYC: Possible NYPD stings

[+ SimplyAdam]

I received the below text message from a trusted friend who works for a queer-friendly support agency in the city.

 

Please spread the word and follow protocol. It never hurts to play things extra safe.

 

"Just heard at the _____ meeting that there may be targeted law enforcement starting this weekend and possibly lasting a week or two. Apparently it's something that happens federally and NYC is being targeted this time. Source is someone who works with NYPD (but details were vague). So be extra careful and maybe let folks know."

[cany10011]

Good to stick to regulars this month then! Thanks for the info

[+ SimplyAdam]

You're welcome, Cany. Whether or not it's what will unfold (I'll still be accepting new clients), the reminder to follow protocol is a healthy one year-round. Every once in a while to let the complexities of our new reality sink in: "Oh yeah, we're living in tenuous times."

[+ azdr0710]

it's possible (????) this may be a warning originating from the news articles about plans this weekend to round up undocumented aliens across the country......one of those "see how the story changes when we pass it along from one to another to another to another" - things.........I may be entirely wrong, though......

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/ice-to-launch-round-up-of-undocumented-immigrants-sunday-11562849273

 

thanks for the information.....

[Deadlift1]

it's possible (????) this may be a warning originating from the news articles about plans this weekend to round up undocumented aliens across the country......one of those "see how the story changes when we pass it along from one to another to another to another" - things.........I may be entirely wrong, though......

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/ice-to-launch-round-up-of-undocumented-immigrants-sunday-11562849273

 

thanks for the information.....

? Uh no......

[Walker1]

I wonder how many cases have been prosecuted using SOSTA so far?

[hypothetically]

Its not exclusive to escorts nor sex workers. It’s Trump ICE Raids expected today 7/14. Follow the IG window for tips if you or someone you know (a gargantuan number of escorts) is undocumented and you seek to protect them. Pass along.

 

[MEDIA=instagram]Bz1ZLtAgtXT[/MEDIA]

[LookingAround]

Not sure what ICE has to do with an escort sting.

[rvwnsd]

Not sure what ICE has to do with an escort sting.

IMO, the question is "Not sure what an escort sting has to do with ICE."

 

The answer to both questions lies in the post made by @hypothetically, particularly the following line:

 

... (a gargantuan number of escorts) is undocumented ...[MEDIA=instagram]Bz1ZLtAgtXT[/MEDIA]

(boldface added by me for emphasis)

 

So when @azdr0710 stated

...one of those "see how the story changes when we pass it along from one to another to another to another"

 

he is likely to be at least partially correct.

 

Given @SimplyAdam is based in NYC, where I'd guess a greater proportion of sex workers are non-US citizens than, say, Denver, it makes perfect sense that a warning would go out to sex workers about a Federal raid that is targeting NYC. In an effort to be timely, especially in a time of crisis, a detail or two can be missed or is omitted so as to alert a broader percentage of the population.

 

It pays to be vigilant and it also pays to err on the side of caution.

 

PS: It seems unlikely to me that ICE agents will be answering escort ads to find undocumented immigrants. There are 830 RM ads in NYC. That's a lot of hay to sort looking for some needles. Additionally, with so many resources it seems unlikely that the FBI will be doing sex-worker stings that are unrelated to the ICE raids. They will be busy. Still, it pays to be vigilant as it always has.

[rvwnsd]

...the complexities of our new reality sink in: "Oh yeah, we're living in tenuous times."

As gay men and people who are or who use the services of sex workers this is not a new reality. We have been living in tenuous times for our entire lifetimes. Not a reason to be frightened or paranoid, but a reason to be careful.

[+ azdr0710]

? Uh no......

 

based on Simply Adam's original post and quote in this thread, it certainly appears that news of the well-publicized immigrant roundups this weekend was corrupted - by some provocateurs (?) - into a warning about stings against providers in NYC this weekend

[hypothetically]

based on Simply Adam's original post and quote in this thread, it certainly appears that news of the well-publicized immigrant roundups this weekend was corrupted - by some provocateurs (?) - into a warning about stings against providers in NYC this weekend

 

Very likely. I know this will “go through one ear and out the other” because the client to escort ratio here is lopsided and our commentary is often overlooked or undermined... nor are there a generous amount of NYC escorts that can attest to the situation in New York. But I lived in NYC for 7 years. There are no “sting operations.” Manhattan is small; the escort community is tiny. If anything like this was occurring or was going to occur, it would spread like wildfire and we’d all know. If anyone has been “arrested” for escorting, there was an additional element to the story that summoned the police but I’m confident it was not based solely on escorting. The NYPD doesn’t give a fuck.

[Boy4]

Is there anything to the tv/movie trope about asking a client/customer if there are police , and the law compelling the cop to reveal his cover?

[rvwnsd]

Is there anything to the tv/movie trope about asking a client/customer if there are police , and the law compelling the cop to reveal his cover?

Oh, yes, absolutely. Also, if they kiss you they can't be a cop.

 

But seriously, no.

[cany10011]

Not sure what ICE has to do with an escort sting.

 

Perhaps many are foreign students who are not allowed to work... and have to take their chances in the underground economy of escorting.

[Boy4]

Oh, yes, absolutely. Also, if they kiss you they can't be a cop.

 

But seriously, no.

Thanks.

[The Phoenix]

Very likely. I know this will “go through one ear and out the other” because the client to escort ratio here is lopsided and our commentary is often overlooked or undermined... nor are there a generous amount of NYC escorts that can attest to the situation in New York. But I lived in NYC for 7 years. There are no “sting operations.” Manhattan is small; the escort community is tiny. If anything like this was occurring or was going to occur, it would spread like wildfire and we’d all know. If anyone has been “arrested” for escorting, there was an additional element to the story that summoned the police but I’m confident it was not based solely on escorting. The NYPD doesn’t give a fuck.

This is good to know. I've been mostly working with regular clients, but just when I was thinking of advertising for new ones, I saw this! Should I be too worried about "stings" or nah?

[+ sniper]

Massage parlors are largely staffed by immigrants. That's where I would expect ICE to focus, and not necessarily looking for trafficking, just for undocumented workers.

[JayCeeKy]

FOSTA-SESTA has been a complete failure and is actually inhibiting what it was set up to accomplish:

"The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Fox23 news station reported in May 2018 that police were having trouble investigating sex trafficking without Backpage. "Police said now that they can't set up stings on Backpage, they've been able to focus their manpower on investigating reports of prostitution at local massage parlors," the report said.

 

That's the classic rerouting of police manpower. Departments across the country are granted funding to fight the plague of sex trafficking only to spend those funds on these prostitution cases. As in the story of Robert Kraft visiting one of those massage parlors in Florida, stings are initiated to fight sex trafficking, but when law enforcement discovers no trafficking has occurred, it simply instigates arrests for prostitution. It's a racket." --- Business Insider, July 14, 2019

 

Cops are so busy chasing down ordinary prostitution that they don't have time (or resources) to investigate real sex trafficking - as Senator Ron Wyden had warned when voting against FOSTA-SESTA.

 

"The law, however, has been an abject failure. It hasn't done what it set out to do, fight sex trafficking, and instead has made the lives of sex workers, the very people the law hoped to protect, more dangerous. FOSTA-SESTA holds websites accountable for any sex work facilitated on their platforms. Sex workers can no longer share information or warn each other away from violent clients." ibid.

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/fosta-sesta-anti-sex-trafficking-law-has-been-failure-opinion-2019-7

 

We can only hope that the several challenges to this law (including one by the ACLU which claims it is unconstitutional) will be successful.

Edited August 9, 2019 by JayCeeKy

[+ FreshFluff]

Law of Unintended Consequences

 

"The passage of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act has led to a reported increase in risky behaviors by sex workers as a result of quashing their ability to seek and screen clients online, forcing them back onto the streets or into the dark web. The ads posted were previously an avenue for advocates to reach out to those wanting to escape the trade."

[hypothetically]

This is good to know. I've been mostly working with regular clients, but just when I was thinking of advertising for new ones, I saw this! Should I be too worried about "stings" or nah?

 

Nah

[The Phoenix]

Nah

Thanks for the heads up! Also, where are my other NYC providers at? Would be nice to know each other and have that support.

[Guest]

Is there anything to the tv/movie trope about asking a client/customer if there are police , and the law compelling the cop to reveal his cover?

No, cops don't have to tell you they're doing a sting (and won't). However, cops will not give you a good French kiss. If the escort won't greet me with a nice kiss, I send them home.

[cany10011]

I thought the French kiss greeting was an urban legend...I usually shake their hands and introduce my first name. I don’t think I’ve kissed a new guy upon the first minutes of meeting him.

 

I’m somewhat hesitant to hire unknowns/ unreviewed escorts.There’s always a feeling of fear/anxiety mixed with lusty anticipation when hiring someone new (not knowing if they are cops or not, or some serial killer).

[+ sniper]

No, cops don't have to tell you they're doing a sting (and won't). However, cops will not give you a good French kiss. If the escort won't greet me with a nice kiss, I send them home.

Pretty sure I saw an episode of COPS where the cop grabbed the streetwalkers tits shortly before arresting her. They aren't necessarily barred from doing anything sexual, that depends on the jurisdiction.