22 men arrested in Cook County prostitution sting

Officers from the Cook County Sheriff's Police Special Victims Unit issued citations to 22 men and towed 19 vehicles after the men responded to online prostitution advertisements offering sex in a Northwest suburban hotel, the Cook County sheriff's office announced in a news release.

Officers set up meetings Wednesday between the would-be sex buyers and an officer posing as a person selling sex.

Once the buyer agreed to exchange money for sex, officers waiting outside entered the room and took the individual into custody, police said.

The men were issued a $1,000 citation for violation of the Cook County public morals nuisance ordinance and 19 vehicles were towed under the ordinance, requiring the vehicle owner to pay $500 to reclaim possession, police said.

Sheriff's police pursue sex purchasers and offers services and support to individuals who are trapped in the sex trade, police said.

"Sex trafficking is not a victimless crime,"Sheriff Tom Dart said. "Many victims -primarily women -suffer violence and abuse, and my office is committed to offering them the assistance they need while making it very costly for those who seek to purchase sex."