Asheville Police Conduct Craigslist Sting

Vice officers in the APD’s Drug Suppression Unit have made several arrests in a recent series of special operations targeting prostitution activity on the Craigslist Web site. The Asheville Police Department was assisted by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office of Computer Crimes Unit in this investigation.

Over the last few weeks, officers have posed as traveling businessmen seeking prostitutes that have posted notices on Craigslist. Craigslist is a central network of online communities, featuring free classified ads for jobs, internships, housing, personals, as well as a section for erotic services.

Police have received numerous complaints about these listings, relating to fraud and robbery, as well as prostitution.
The following people were charged in the recent operation:

•    Melissa Sexton Wilson, of Alexander – Solicit for Prostitution
•    Audra Leigh Bradley, of Black Mountain – Massage without License
•    Dawn Foreman Jones, of Asheville
– Solicit for Prostitution
•    Lisa Leikos, of Burnsville
– Solicit for Prostitution
•    Karen Black, of Smyrna, Ga.
– Solicit for Prostitution
•    Amanda Smith, of Asheville
– Solicit for Prostitution
•    Shelly Sluder, of Asheville
– Solicit for Prostitution/Possessions of Schedule 3 Controlled Substance
•    Emily Denise Miller, of Asheville
 – Practice Massage without License/Adult Entertainment without License/City Ordinance Violation (Massage)