A Grafton man and two Yorktown men are among the 37 people arrested in a Newport News prostitution sting in January.
The undercover operation was conducted over four days — Jan. 15, 16, 29 and 30 — in hotels in the central area of Newport News and online, said Holly McPherson, and spokesperson for the Newport News Police Department.
Investigators from the Newport News Police Department’s Organized Crime Division, patrol officers, intelligence detectives, federal and non-governmental partners conducted the operation.
John Howard Smith, 48, of the 500 block of Lotz Drive in Grafton, was arrested Jan. 16 and charged with solicitation of prostitution and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution.
Smith has been registered as sex offender on the Virginia sex offender registry since June 14, 2006. He was convicted of aggravated sexual battery and two counts of taking indecent liberties with children in Newport News Circuit Court in 2006, court records show.
Ralph Helmut Brunner, 51 of the 300 block of Crestwood Court, and Nathan Everette Walker, 26 of the 200 block of Thoreau Circle, were arrested Jan. 30 and face the same charges as Smith.
The sweep resulted in the arrest of 23 men and 14 women. The names of the women arrested for prostitution are not yet being released as the Newport News Police Department continues its investigations into sex trafficking.
The prostitution sweep was part of the Cook County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Office “National Day of Johns Arrests,” which called on law enforcement across the nation to conduct investigations and arrest Johns, or prostitution clients, and prostitutes.
The list of hotels where the operation was being conducted is also not being released.
In addition to the three York County men arrested, the following have been charged with solicitation of prostitution and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution:
- Eric Daniel Ingram, 27, of the 700 block of J Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News
- Marcellus Michael Kashin, 47, of the block 100 block of Cambridge Place in Hampton
- Alvaro Lopez-Mendez, 20, 800 block of Forrest Drive in Newport News
- Miguel Garcia Martinez, 46, of the first block of Troy Drive in Newport News
- Omar Mendez-Hernandez, 29, of the 300 block of Pear Tree Court in Newport News
- Quintana Crozco Natividad, 30, of the 500 block of Waters Edge Drive in Newport News
- Ashton Ray Robinson, 31, of the 700 block of James Drive in Newport News
- Linder Bryan Soledispa, 21, of the 600 block of Hilltop Drive in Newport News
- Raimanda Orsini Thompson, 53, of the 13100 block of Harbor Drive in Carrollton
- Bruce Wayne Wharton, 64, of the 500 block of Logan Place in Newport News
- Jerrod De’Andre Braxton, 24, of the 1400 block of Victoria Blvd. in Hampton
- Jason Michael Browne, 42, of the first block of Patriot Circle in Newport News
- David Cruz, 34, of the 100 block of Regent Drive in Hampton
- Geoffrey David Fraites, 48, of the 100 block of Harrington Road in Newport News
- Johnny Chandarith Mau, 46, of the 900 block of Doewood Lane in Newport News
- Cory Bain Robinson, 39, of the 1000 block of Willow Green Drive in Newport News
- Clarence Edward Sheppard, 32, of the 500 block of Rivers Retreat in Elizabeth City, NC
- Kyle Sydney Steinbergin, 21, of the 900 block of Chartwell Drive in Newport News
- Rolando Lopez-Mendez, 19, 800 block of Forrest Drive in Newport News, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.
In addition, Newport News resident Aaron Keith Robinson has been charged with aiding prostitution, use of a vehicle to promote prostitution, receiving money for procuring prostitution, pandering and causing a person to maintaining a bawdy place.
