14 arrested in Aurora reverse prostitution sting

Aurora police say they've seen a "marked decrease" in street-level prostitution in recent months.

So something must have been in the air recently when police arrested 13 men and a 15-year-old male during a reverse prostitution sting.

Police on Monday said the sting was staged Aug. 11.

All of the alleged offenders were charged with solicitation of a sexual act for offering an undercover female officer money in exchange for sexual favors. One of the men and the teen also were charged with narcotics-related offenses, while another was charged with public indecency.

"We don't know why we had so many arrests on this particular sting," spokesman Dan Ferrelli said. "Actually we've seen a marked decrease in street-level prostitution so it's hard to tell if that just happened to be a night that people were out looking for that particular service or if other factors were involved."

Police said the sting took place on the near-east side.

Those charged with solicitation are: Lucio Amaro-Delarosa, and Luis M. Rodriguez-Vasquez, both 26, and both from the 100 block of North Kendall Street; Latrell C. King, 17, of the 0-99 block of Green Street in Maywood; Alfredo Ramirez-Mendez, 26, of the 400 block of South Kendall Street; Juan M. Barron-Troncoso, 25, of the 1000 block of Second Avenue; Lance A. Elkins, 28, of the 1200 block of Indian Avenue; Charles R. Kerr, 33, of the 2400 block of Frost Drive; Ismael Torritos, 30, of the 700 block of South Farnsworth Avenue; Ernesto Contreras, 39, of the 1300 block of Indian Avenue; Thomas F. Durham, 52, of the 1700 block of Richard Avenue; Daniel I. Leal, 19, of the 700 block of Spring Street; Adelfo Flores-Cruz, 26, of the 500 block of Simms Street; and Rodolfo Vivaldo-Lima, 19, of the 300 block of Jefferson Street.

The juvenile was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis. King also was charged with unlawful possession of a look-alike substance and Kerr with public indecency. All the charges are misdemeanors.

Nine men used their vehicles during the offenses and had them towed and impounded, police said. To retrieve them, they had to pay $500 plus towing and storage costs.