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Melbourne Police Prostitution Sting Targets Suspects Who Use Craigslist, Backpage

By  //  August 24, 2015

nets 3 arrests on drug, prostitution charges

The Melbourne Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) conducted an operation last week targeting suspects who use Craigslist.com and Backpage.com to advertise for prostitution.
The Melbourne Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) conducted an operation last week targeting suspects who use Craigslist.com and Backpage.com to advertise for prostitution. Arrested were Lyssa Calio, 40, on Solicitation to Commit Prostitution and Possession of Drug Paraphenalia charges; Laura Short, 36, on Solicitation to Commit Prostitution charges; and Nicole Ashley Lynch, 25, on Solicitation to Commit Prostitution. (MPD images)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Melbourne Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) conducted an operation last week targeting suspects who use Craigslist.com and Backpage.com to advertise for prostitution.

A total of three arrests were made in Melbourne during the operation.

According to Melbourne Police Commander Dan Lynch, arrested were Lyssa Calio, 40, on Solicitation to Commit Prostitution and Possession of Drug Paraphenalia charges; Laura Short, 36, on Solicitation to Commit Prostitution charges; and Nicole Ashley Lynch, 25, on Solicitation to Commit Prostitution.

Undercover Detectives posed as potential customers and contacted women who put up ads on Craigslist.com and Backpage.com looking for obvious sexual rendezvous.

The undercover detectives were directed to locations throughout the city of Melbourne to pick up these women so that they could be propositioned for prostitution-related activity.

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According to Melbourne Police Commander Dan Lynch, the women were using slang terms for money such as “roses” and “donations” in an effort to avoid prostitution charges. One of the suspects was found to have heroin paraphernalia on her person when she was arrested.

CRIMELINE-580-2“The Melbourne Police Department actively investigates these crimes as they are problematic for our local residents who see an influx of drug and prostitution activity in seemingly quiet neighborhoods,” said Commander Lynch in a release.

If anyone has a potential drug or prostitution problem in their neighborhood they are encouraged to call Crimeline or the Melbourne Police Department Anonymous Drug Tip Line at 321-608-8447.

If someone has any information about these crimes or any other crimes please call Central Florida Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477). Calls to Crimeline are anonymous, and tips that lead to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.