November 16, 2016

D.A.: Six men arrested in King of Prussia prostitution sting

By Michael Tanenbaum
PhillyVoice Staff

Six men are facing charges in connection to a prostitution sting carried out by police in King of Prussia, Montgomery County prosecutors announced on Wednesday.

The operation, jointly led by the Upper Merion Township Police Department and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, consisted of officers placing online advertisements offering prostitution services. Authorities said hundreds of phone calls and text messages were fielded by police in response to the ads.

Each of the defendants allegedly partook in conversations about times, locations and prices for sexual services before meeting with an undercover agent posing as a prostitute in the King of Prussia area.

Source/D.A.

Robert Cizek.

Source/D.A.

Gerard Deleo.

Source/D.A.

Steven Nielson.

The sting led to the arrest of Robert Cizek, of West Norriton; Gerard Deleo, of Phoenixville; Jamr Lloyd, of West Chester; Keary McNew, of Plymouth Meeting; Steven Nielson, of Gladwyne; and Amit Vyas, of Eagleville.

All six men have been charged with patronizing prostitutes and each will have a preliminary hearing with Magisterial District Judge James Gallagher.

Source/D.A.

Jamar Lloyd.

Source/D.A.

Amit Vayas.

Source/D.A.

Keary McNew.

While some mistakenly believe sting operations of this kind are an instance of entrapment, courts often interpret defendants' willingess to contact service providers — and then arrive at the stated location — as "a manifestation of the defendant’s pre-existing intent or willingness to engage in the prohibited conduct," according to a criminal defense lawyer's review of the subject.

The prostitution sting in Montgomery County, announced in February 2014, is aimed at investigating and prosecuting individuals who commit crimes related to human trafficking and the commercial sex trade at Montgomery County hotels.