Cook County Tops U.S. List After Sex Trafficking Sting Snares Hundreds of 'Johns'

Cook County's arrest of 230 local "johns" ranks it as No. 1 in a month-long summer sting that involved dozens of agencies across the U.S.

More than 1,300 total "sex buyers" were charged in this year’s Johns Suppression Initiative, a nationwide law enforcement effort aimed at curbing sex trafficking. The Cook County Sheriff's Office conducted its sting from July 1 and Aug. 7. It included 43 individuals who were identified and taken into custody through collaborative efforts in Lansing, Matteson and Broadview.

“This summer’s initiative focused on ensuring that victims of sex trafficking were connected with appropriate social services,” Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said, in a news release.

Following Cook County's "john" arrests were the Seattle and Columbus police departments, which tallied 204 and 100, respectively.

More than 70 total law enforcement agencies in 18 states participated in the sting. Together, they netted 1,358 solicitation arrests, 71 human trafficking arrests and the recovery of at least 32 underaged girls who were lured into prostitution, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Among local arrests was that of a 15-year-old boy attempting to buy sex.