Seven Arrested in Prostitution Sting Targeting Internet Sites

Chicago - Seven people were arrested last week in an undercover prostitution sting which targeted the "erotic" sections of Craigslist and another Web site in west suburban Aurora.

The undercover detail, staged by Aurora Police Special Operations Group detectives, was aimed at prostitution activities advertised on Craiglist and Backpage.com, according to Aurora police.

Seven arrests were made Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, a release from police said.

Charged with solicitation of a sexual act were:

-- Gordon Luedtke, 48, of the 32W000 block of Church Hill Lane, Wayne, Ill.;
-- Rafael Medrano (aka: Sandra Medrano), 34, of the 1100 block of Lebanon Street, Aurora;
-- Kathleen Szarowicz, 23, of the 5600 block of 8th Street, Grandville, Mich;
-- Nicole Deuchler, 29, of the 1000 block of Fenton Street, Aurora;
-- Victoria Clausen, 20, of the 200 block of Nippert Avenue, Romeoville;
-- Heather Kroner, 21, of the 1900 block of West 28th Street, Van Buren, Ariz.; and
-- Wendy Negron, 34, of the 2500 block of South Finley Road, Lombard.

Police are not naming the exact location of the detail, citing the cooperation of the business with authorities.

Aurora police investigators were assisted by the Illinois State Police North Central Narcotics Task Force.