KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Detectives in Kissimmee arrested sixteen people after a week-long sting operation geared at targeting criminals online.
"It's trying to target people that are using the internet in the wrong way for prostitution, purchasing babies," said Kissimmee Police spokeswoman, Stacie Miller.
Detectives scoured sites like Craigslist and Backpage for anyone advertising illegal services. Investigators even called several alleged prostitutes to set up a rendezvous at a decoy house.
Sixteen people showed up at the house with an appointment to buy or sell prostitution, including a local psychiatrist, Dr. Ramaro Makkena. They were all arrested.
Investigators also caught unlicensed contractor, Javier Medina, who used the internet to advertise his services.
Detectives unplugged the dryer at the decoy home and called in Medina to fix the problem. Instead of just plugging it back in, he took the entire machine apart and charged $60 for the visit.
"We checked it out, we tried to clean it out, I don't know," Medina told WFTV when asked why he charged for a simple solution.
Medina was given a notice to appear in court.
"Unlicensed contractors bring a whole other gamut of problems. You're going to get people casing your house, and they could come back when you're not home," said Miller.