LTC 177-2008 MBPD/FBI Nationwide Anti-Prostitution Initiativem M I AM I B EAC H 2008 JUt~ 30 AM 9: ~4
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
No. I_TC # i~~-zoos LETTER TO COMMISSION
To: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: June 27, 2008
SUBJECT: MBPD/FBI Nationwide Anti -Prostitution Initiative
This letter to the Commission will serve to inform the Mayor and City Commission of the
recent developments in a joint Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD)/Federal Bureau
Investigation (FBI) nationwide Anti-Prostitution initiative, which took place in June 2008.
Specifically, the MBPD's Strategic Investigations Unit (SIU) has been working in conjunction
with the FBI Agents assigned to the Minor Vice Task Force to curb juvenile prostitution. As
part of this overall effort, the MBPD participated in operation "Cross Country" targeting
prostitution, juvenile prostitution and related crimes against children from June 19-21.
Plainclothes detectives of the SIU and agents of the FBI Minor Vice Task Force conducted
an enforcement operation locally in the City of Miami Beach. Using covert surveillance and
proactive investigative techniques, these investigative personnel made a significant number
of arrests. For the three day period, there were a total of 75 arrests including 7 felonies and
68 misdemeanors (primarily prostitution violations). One juvenile was arrested for
prostitution and two of the misdemeanor arrests involved persons procuring for prostitution.
Of note during this operation was the arrest of six persons for prostitution related offenses
while on a "party limo/bus style" International Truck. This vehicle was outfitted like a mobile
home with a rear section of coach style seats utilized for all types of illicit sex acts. The
driver of the vehicle and keeper of the proceeds was also in possession of a loaded semi-
automatic firearm. This vehicle and organized prostitution ring was the topic of local,
national and international news reports as a "Brothel Bus" headline story. The MBPD will
pursue the acquisition of the vehicle valued at $250,000 as well as $2,768 in illicit funds
through the forfeiture process.
The local MBPD and FBI enforcement efforts led the nation in the number of arrests as part
of this initiative. Because of the effectiveness of the operation, FBI Director Robert Mueller
gave a press conference detailing the total number of nationwide arrests on major news
outle~ including FOX and MSNBC.
JMG/CN/~
F:\poliWDMI\$OPR\Gruen 2008\LTCAntiProstitutionlnitiative.doc