Sting nets six for patronizing prostitutes

NORRISTOWN >> Six men from Montgomery and Chester counties have been arrested for allegedly patronizing prostitutes in King of Prussia.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Upper Merion Police Chief Thomas Nolan announced the arrest of Robert Cizek of West Norriton, Gerard Deleo of Phoenixville, Jamar Lloyd of West Chester, Keary McNew of Plymouth Meeting, Steven Nielson of Gladwyne and Amit Vyas of Eagleville for allegedly attempting to pay for sexual services.

The men were arrested during an organized sting operation targeting hu- man trafficking and the commercial sex trade in the King of Prussia area, according to a release from Steele’s office. Upper Merion Police worked with the Montgomery County Detective Bureau.

Officers received hundreds of text messages and phone calls after placing an online advertisement offering prostitution services online. Each defendant finalized a price for sexual services as well as a location and time, according to the D.A.’s office. When each of the defendants arrived, they met with an undercover officer posing as a prostitute before an arrest was made, the release says.

The sting is part of a joint law enforcement ini- tiative by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and the Upper Merion Police Department that was first announced in February 2014, aiming to investigate and prosecute individuals committing crimes related to human trafficking and the commercial sex trade in Montgomery County, and specifically in county hotels.

Each defendant will have a preliminary hearing before District Judge James Gallagher of Bridgeport. Dates for each hearing has not been scheduled.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney M. Stewart Ryan, captain of the Sex Crimes Unit.