Crackdown on Craigslist criminals

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Police are cracking down on Craigslist criminals. Dozens of prostitutes are selling their bodies online in Austin. Even if you use Craigslist fairly often, you may not realize how common prostitution is. There is an entire section on the Austin Craigslist page with numerous ads, including photos, phone numbers even directions to some of the advertisers' homes. Multiple police agencies teamed up this week for a sting operation that netted six.

One woman found listed on Craigslist asked KXAN to call her Katie. "I had been dancing, I got in a situation where I could not dance due to a violent situation," said Katie. "Too many marks on my body." So, Katie joined dozens of others and advertises sex on Craigslist. "I started doing outcall, it easy to get started and the money was there," said Katie.

A quick look under the service section on Craigslist and you will find an area titled "erotic" with numerous ads of men and women who appear to be selling sex. Someone tipped off police who decided to undergo a large scale sting Wednesday at the Hyatt in North Austin. "It was joint investigation with APD organized crime division with Travis County and Williamson County Sheriff's offices," said Veneza Aguiñaga, with the Austin Police Department.

Now Melissa Coronado, Audrey Garary, Melissa Hielscher, Jessica Killion, Lametricia Matts and Francisco Segovia are being charged with prostitution.