NEW: Operation Backpage Nets Seven More Arrests in Providence
GoLocalProv News Team
NEW: Operation Backpage Nets Seven More Arrests in Providence
“If you use Backpage.com to solicit sex in Providence, you had better watch your back,” said Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza. “While online sites such as Backpage.com have created a new mechanism for the sex trade the Providence Police Department continues to meet those challenges head-on. Our investigators are working every day to bring to justice those who perpetuate and seek to profit from prostitution and provide support for the victims of sex trafficking. I commend their performance.”
Elorza had been at the forefront of the effort to address individuals answering online advertisements to pay for the illegal procurement of sex through the website Backpage.com, ‘Operation Backpage’ has led to the arrest of 42 individuals since March 2015.
Latest Effort
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe most recent sting related to “Operation Backpage” was conducted on Thursday, September 25, resulting in the arrest of seven men soliciting for sex online.
Providence Police Narcotics Detectives placed advertisements on Backpage.com disguised as women soliciting for sex. Throughout the investigation undercover policewomen arranged to meet the responding males inside a local hotel, where they are arrested and charged with procurement of sexual conduct for a fee. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in 6th District Court on October 13.
Defendants:
Orion Wellinghurst, age 28, Bristol
Vaallah Brown, age 24, Providence
Rasheed Chinn, age 30, Wrentham, MA
Robert Spiker, age 50, Bellingham, MA
Michael Sadler, age 33, Bristol
Kimball Abbott, age 45, S. Dartmouth, MA
Jaime Tellez, age 45, Providence
Editor's Note: This story was origianlly published at 1:59 PM on September 30, 2015
2014's Most Violent Cities and Towns in RI According to the FBI
#38 New Shoreham
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0
2014 Violent Crimes: 0
2014 Population: 1,043
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 0
#37 North Smithfield
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.24
2014 Violent Crimes: 3
2014 Population: 12,276
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 3
#36 Barrington
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.24
2014 Violent Crimes: 4
2014 Population: 16,351
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 1
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 3
#35 Smithfield
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.279
2014 Violent Crimes: 6
2014 Population: 21,482
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 2
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 4
#34 Little Compton
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.28
2014 Violent Crimes: 1
2014 Population: 3,518
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 1
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.28
2014 Violent Crimes: 3
2014 Population: 10,497
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Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 3
#32 East Greenwich
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.30
2014 Violent Crimes: 4
2014 Population: 13,718
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 2
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assaults: 1
#31 Narragansett
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.31
2014 Violent Crimes: 5
2014 Population: 15,724
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assaults: 4
#30 Jamestown
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.36
2014 Violent Crimes: 2
2014 Population: 5,508
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 2
#29 Glocester
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.40
2014 Violent Crimes: 4
2014 Population: 9,916
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 4
#28 South Kingstown
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.45
2014 Violent Crimes: 14
2014 Population: 30,726
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 4
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assaults: 8
#27 Hopkinton
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.49
2014 Violent Crimes: 4
2014 Population: 8,127
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 1
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assaults: 2
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.52
2014 Violent Crimes: 18
2014 Population: 34,309
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 3
Robbery: 6
Aggravated Assaults: 9
#25 Bristol
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.53
2014 Violent Crimes: 12
2014 Population: 22,333
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 1
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 11
#24 Lincoln
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.56
2014 Violent Crimes: 12
2014 Population: 21,425
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 2
Robbery: 4
Aggravated Assaults: 6
#23 Charlestown
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.64
2014 Violent Crimes: 5
2014 Population: 7,798
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 2
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assaults: 2
#22 Richmond
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.65
2014 Violent Crimes: 5
2014 Population: 7,618
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 3
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 2
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.71
2014 Violent Crimes: 25
2014 Population: 35,053
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 4
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assaults: 20
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.74
2014 Violent Crimes: 13
2014 Population: 17,449
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 5
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assaults: 7
#19 Burrillville
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 0.86
2014 Violent Crimes: 14
2014 Population: 16,198
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 2
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 12
#18 Warwick
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 1.02
2014 Violent Crimes: 84
2014 Population: 82,123
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 25
Robbery: 10
Aggravated Assaults: 49
#17 East Providence
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 1.09
2014 Violent Crimes: 52
2014 Population: 47,351
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 12
Robbery: 5
Aggravated Assaults: 34
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 1.1
2014 Violent Crimes: 25
2014 Population: 22,711
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 6
Robbery: 2
Aggravated Assaults: 17
#15 North Kingstown
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 1.1
2014 Violent Crimes: 29
2014 Population: 26,211
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 10
Robbery: 3
Aggravated Assaults: 16
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 1.17
2014 Violent Crimes: 19
2014 Population: 16,216
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 6
Robbery: 2
Aggravated Assaults: 11
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 1.19
2014 Violent Crimes: 15
2014 Population: 15,931
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 2
Robbery: 3
Aggravated Assaults: 14
#12 West Greenwich
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 1.3
2014 Violent Crimes: 8
2014 Population: 6,122
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 2
Robbery: 2
Aggravated Assaults: 4
#11 Cranston
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 1.31
2014 Violent Crimes: 106
2014 Population: 80,905
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 19
Robbery: 22
Aggravated Assaults: 64
#10 Johnston
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 1.43
2014 Violent Crimes: 42
2014 Population: 29,216
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 4
Robbery: 3
Aggravated Assaults: 35
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 1.51
2014 Violent Crimes: 49
2014 Population: 32,396
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Robbery: 6
Aggravated Assaults: 34
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 1.51
2014 Violent Crimes: 16
2014 Population: 10,567
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 1
Robbery: 3
Aggravated Assaults: 12
#7 West Warwick
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 2.1
2014 Violent Crimes: 61
2014 Population: 28,934
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 11
Robbery: 11
Aggravated Assaults: 39
#6 Foster
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 2.34
2014 Violent Crimes: 11
2014 Population: 4,684
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 4
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 7
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 2.91
2014 Violent Crimes: 208
2014 Population: 71,443
Murder: 2
Forcible Rape: 42
Robbery: 51
Aggravated Assaults: 113
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.96
2014 Violent Crimes: 95
2014 Population: 23,959
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 15
Robbery: 12
Aggravated Assaults: 68
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 5.18
2014 Violent Crimes: 927
2014 Population: 178,640
Murder: 18
Forcible Rape: 90
Robbery: 289
Aggravated Assaults: 530
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Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 5.32
2014 Violent Crimes: 219
2014 Population: 41,140
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Forcible Rape: 27
Robbery: 48
Aggravated Assaults: 144
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2014 Violent Crimes: 134
2014 Population: 19,498
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Forcible Rape: 15
Robbery: 37
Aggravated Assaults: 80
