An Iowa State University professor was among the 11 people arrested this week in a prostitution sting. Ankeny Police made the arrests at a hotel on Wednesday after posting an ad on an adult website. All 11 people were charged with prostitution, including 54-year-old Michael Spurlock of Ames, who’s a professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at ISU.
In a release, Ankeny Police said prostitution stings are carried out in order to focus on predators who surf the Web and may be involved in human trafficking offenses.
Prostitution is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine ranging from $625 to $6,250.
Police identified those who were arrested as: Erin Blue, 28, of Des Moines; Scott Daniel, 45, of Pleasant Hill; Luis Epinoza, 40, of Denver, Colorado; Chris Gilroy, 61, of Story City; Rita Gray, 45, of Des Moines; Thwang Chia Hlun, 25, of Des Moines; David Nord, 48, of Sleepy Eye, Minn.; Andrew Novak, 27, of Ames; Levi Riddick, 21, of Bloomfield; Michael Spurlock, 54, of Ames; and Sabrina Williams, 21, of Des Moines. Blue was additionally charged with interference and arrested on two outstanding warrants.