Sting leads to drug, prostitution charges

Aurora police are crediting watchful neighbors for putting an end to an alleged drug and prostitution operation on the city's far east side.

Five residents were arrested and charged with narcotics and prostitution offenses Tuesday after an undercover Aurora police officer was offered sex in exchange for money by two of the women, authorities said Wednesday.

Denise Hartung, 40, and Kathleen Bartlett, 35, both were charged with prostitution and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. A second charge of unlawful possession was added to Hartung's charges from an outstanding warrant.

Thomas Prater, 32, was charged with keeping a house of prostitution and pandering. Hartung, Bartlett and Prater all live at the same home on the 3000 block of Timberhill Court.

Eric Hawkins, 42, of the 600 bock of South River Street, was charged with pandering and Jose Espinoza, 20, of the 800 block of Gillette Avenue, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Investigators already had secured a search warrant for the home before the alleged act of prostitution and found about 2.2 grams of crack cocaine, digital scales and drug paraphernalia.

Police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said Wednesday that police had received "dozens" of complaints of suspicious activity at the house during the past several weeks.

"That started the investigation and we kept an eye on the house for several weeks as part of the investigation," Ferrelli said.

During the investigation, detectives also discovered that prostitution activities were being advertised on the Craigslist Web site.

In instances where prostitution is being offered over the Internet, he said it is not unusual for prospective customers to be robbed and attacked when they show up for services.

Clients also have reported instances of stolen identities when the prostitutes distract them and find personal information in their wallets.

"Unfortunately this isn't uncommon at all," Ferrelli said. "We ran and are continuing to conduct several investigations into the activities offered on Craigslist in our community."