AUSTIN — The Austin Police Department has charged nine people in a prostitution sting that happened in North Austin.
According to police documents, the area of East Powell Lane near Interstate 35 and U.S. 183 has been "well known for prostitution activity and it has become a quality of life issue for the residents of this neighborhood." Police worked to combat this issue by performing a prostitution sting along the road on Sept. 18.
Throughout the day, police charged nine people who allegedly agreed to buy sex from an undercover officer. The following were charged with prostitution, a class B misdemeanor:
- Christopher Baldwin, 38
- Somphone Chanhrattana, 64
- Tsehayetu Laster, 25
- Jose Mireles, 41
- Jamie Morris, 32
- Hien Due Nguyen, 56
- Juan Salvador-Calle, 27
- Shannon Snavley, 45
- Dean Stroder, 19
Laster, Mireles, Morris, Nguyen and Salvador-Calle are currently in the Travis County Jail, according to online records on Thursday.
Four others were arrested on Sept. 19. Police said these arrests were part of a back-to-back operation:
- Jose Maya, 21
- Rakesh Menhdiratta, 55
- Pedro Say Vasquez, 53
- Yashesha Walker, 29
According to arrest affidavits obtained by KVUE, Maya (top left) and Walker (bottom right) were arrested in a prostitution sting at the intersection on Colony Creek Drive and Northgate Boulevard. Affidavits for Menhdiratta and Vasquez have not been obtained by KVUE as of Friday afternoon.