(Gillette, Wyo.) On Thursday, June 13th, a 30-year-old female from Lincoln, Nebraska, identified as Raquel Herrera, was arrested by the Gillette Police Department (GPD) after having solicited herself to perform sexual acts in exchange for money to an undercover detective.
According to the report from Police Lieutenant Deaton, investigators began looking into Herrera’s activities following her posting of an online advertisement on “Back Page”, a website resembling Craigslist, aside from the fact that it tends to attract advertisements for illegal activities. After learning of Herrera’s arrival in Gillette, GPD detectives were able to locate her whereabouts and plan a sting operation. Yesterday, an undercover detective offered her $200.00 in exchange for sexual acts. Herrera agreed and was arrested shortly thereafter.
“We do these every now and then, when we become aware of them,” Lt. Deaton said, referring to incidents such as this, which he shares are few and far between, and handled on a case to case basis. The lieutenant expressed his belief that prostitution is neither a large, nor a growing problem in Gillette, but the Dept. does have investigators who help to keep a close eye on websites, such as back page, to prevent prostitution from ever becoming a real problem.
“We have our narcotics team,” Lt. Deaton explained. “This is part of what they do,” he explained, adding that the narcotics team within the GPD handle situations that stretch beyond the realm of narcotics, including vice-type operations and alcohol-related investigations.
Herrera is being charged for prostitution.
