Two arrested in Lake County prostitution sting

Two men have been charged with promoting prostitution at a residence in Newport Township, authorities said Friday.

Gilberto Garcia, 22, of the 600 block of East Galena Boulevard in Aurora, and Jhonatan Diaz, 21, of the 38000 block of North Manor Avenue in Beach Park, were charged Nov. 28 after arranging to have women meet with an undercover officer, Lake County sheriff's authorities said in a news release.

Garcia met the detective at a house on the 14300 block of West 9th Street, then led the detective inside and introduced him to two women, according to the news release. Garcia provided a price for sex with the women and he was arrested without incident, authorities said.

Further investigation revealed Diaz was responsible for answering telephone calls and making reservations for men to have sex for money with the women, the new release said. Diaz also was arrested without incident.

The Lake County Sheriff's Gang Task Force worked on the arrests in conjunction with Lake County state's attorney's Special Victims Unit.

The women have been relocated to safe housing, authorities said.

Garcia and Diaz were charged with a felony counts of promoting prostitution. They are being held in the Lake County jail on $50,000 bail.

Garcia also had an active arrest warrant out of DuPage County for criminal damage to property and a second arrest warrant out of Aurora for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, authorities said.