Suburban prostitution sting nets eight in Aurora

A nearly two-week nationwide crackdown on prostitution solicitation netted several suburban arrests.

The sting operation ran from Jan. 23 to Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2.

Cook County sheriff’s deputies arrested 32 “johns” during the sting and “recovered” two adult prostitutes who were not charged with any crimes, but instead agreed to enter a treatment program, according to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s office. Dart conceived the operation in 2011.

Lake County sheriff’s office recorded 11 solicitation arrests during the campaign, Cook County sheriff’s officials said.

Nationally more than 373 arrests were made.

Aurora police arrested eight men as part of a sting Jan. 27 at an east side motel. The arrested men were Christopher R. Johnson, 49, of Oswego; Clayton S. Chilvers, 54, of Oswego; David M. Dudgeon, 37, of Westmont; Barry P. Miller, 51, of Aurora; Nikolay Smolin, 36, of Plainfield; Abed H. Khan, 59, of Elk Grove Village; John D. Yednock, 60, of Lisle; and Eric Ingram, 36, of Batavia.

“The Aurora Police Department’s participation in the National Day of Johns operation is another example of our belief in the strength of law enforcement agencies from all levels working together for a common cause,” Aurora Police Chief Greg Thomas said Thursday. “Although many people believe prostitution is a victimless crime, these operations illustrate that it is linked to sex trafficking which is brutal, disgusting and something that we are committed to eradicating within Aurora and beyond.”