Newark is a village of approximately 9,000 residents, situated 35 miles southeast of Rochester in Wayne County, New York, within the town of Arcadia. Prostitution activity has been well-documented in the village and nearby communities, and throughout the county. This activity and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates results in complaints to law enforcement agencies from residents and businesses. Among the more serious crimes associated with the local commercial sex market is sex trafficking. Prostitution related violence – including homicide – has also occurred within the village.

Consumer level demand provides the revenue stream for all prostitution and sex trafficking, and has therefore been targeted by local law enforcement agencies as a strategy for prevention and response.  For example, in October 2015, officers with the Village of Newark Police Department, in partnership with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department and New York State Police, reported the arrests of seven alleged sex buyers and one sex seller following an anti-prostitution investigation. Logistical details about the sting (including whether or not it was conducted using web advertisements and/or police decoys) were not disclosed. All of the arrestees’ identities were publicized in press. In September, 2016,