Dubuque County Treasurer among 11 men caught in prostitution sting operation

[cigaretteman]

As part of a two-day sting operation targeting human trafficking through prostitution, officials have arrested 11 men including the Dubuque County Treasurer.

60-year-old Randy Wedewer, Dubuque’s County Treasurer, was arrested during the Dubuque Police, Dubuque County Sheriff, and Iowa State Patrol joint operation.

Dubuque County Treasurer Randy Lee Wedewer(KCRG)
Others arrested include Vincent J. Hanson Jr., 59, of rural Dubuque; Timothy J. McAndrews, 57, of rural Dubuque; Kevin M. Bockenstedt, 41, of Sherrill, Iowa; Joshua J. Vondran, 40, of Epworth, Iowa; Ryan P. Besler, 21, of Farley, Iowa; Timothy Murphy, 55, of Peosta, Iowa; Jordan H. Watkins, 38, of Bellevue, Iowa; Timothy A. Griffin, 32, of Dickeyville, Wis.; Kevin Stanton, 63, of Cuba City, Wis.; and Craig A. Mason, 57, of Stoughton, Wis.

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Court documents state that the operation consisted of undercover agents posting ads on social media sites offering sexual services for money and provided a location to the individuals that answered the ad.

Reports also indicate that at least one of the men were also charged with possession of drugs.

Authorities noted that the investigation is ongoing and additional charges related to the sting are possible.

Dubuque County Treasurer among 11 men caught in prostitution sting operation

Court documents state that the operation consisted of undercover agents posting ads on social media sites offering sexual services for money and provided a location to the individuals that answered the ad.

www.kcrg.com

 

[cigaretteman]

 

[h-hawk]

I wonder if there is actually human trafficking involved or if they just say that now because more and more people see this as a victimless crime.

 

[cigaretteman]

I wonder if there is actually human trafficking involved or if they just say that now because more and more people see this as a victimless crime.

Good question. Perhaps more information about the operation will be coming out later on.

 

[PlyHawk]

it's illegal to crave a lil' snatch...?

 

[B1GDeal]

I wonder if there is actually human trafficking involved or if they just say that now because more and more people see this as a victimless crime.

It can be victimless if the person selling it was doing it on their own... like the folks at the Bunny Ranch or for Escort Services, but the vast majority on the streets aren't. They are beaten, drugged and more to get them to do it... which is where the trafficking comes in. I think that's why many feel it should be legal and brought into business like it is in Europe where they have a safe place to work out of, are tested, etc.

 

[Joes Place]

Whew....at least none of 'em were "terrorists"...

 

[torbee]

Must be all those "Chicago people" bringing all this crime to Dubuque, amiright!?

 

[Jerome Silberman]

3 of 10 perverts are apparently named Tim.

 

[PlyHawk]

Must be all those "Chicago people" bringing all this crime to Dubuque, amiright!?

you're a real puss, Torbee. I'm sure you'd be all defensive like if this was a gay prostitute sting situation...no???

 

[torbee]

you're a real puss, Torbee. I'm sure you'd be all defensive like if this was a gay prostitute sting situation...no???

You're the guy on the top, second from left, right?

 

[Joes Place]

3 of 10 perverts are apparently named Tim.

 

[PlyHawk]

You're the guy on the top, second from left, right?

thought so.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

I wonder if there is actually human trafficking involved or if they just say that now because more and more people see this as a victimless crime.

It does seem like they used to say they were doing "prostitution busts" but now they throw in the "sex trafficking" bit into it.

 

[noleclone2]

OMG that is classic-10 sad faces and one pissed off face!

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

OMG that is classic-10 sad faces and one pissed off face!

Wonder how many of them are going through divorce right now?

I'm absolutely in favor of criminal penalties for hiring a prostitute if you are married. But criminal penalties for people who are single seems like a waste of time.

 

[torbee]

Wonder how many of them are going through divorce right now?

I'm absolutely in favor of criminal penalties for hiring a prostitute if you are married. But criminal penalties for people who are single seems like a waste of time.

You have an odd way of thinking.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

You have an odd way of thinking.

I know. But we have a lot of in the box thinkers on both sides and they seem to be digging us deeper and deeper in to a massive sociological mess.

Maybe it's time we need to try something different. Communitarianism.

 

[GOHOX69]

They get money and resources from the feds if human trafficking is involved.

 

[lucas80]

You're the guy on the top, second from left, right?

I call Northern as third one in on the bottom row. The OP is 4th on the top line. Biggrey next to him. He always looks a lot taller on the internet.

 

[RushProbst]

Growing up in Dubuque, I played baseball and football against one of the Johns.

 

[HawCory]

Must be a lot of ice fishing going on around Dubuque

Ice fishing leads to prostitution

 

[NoleATL]

10, 6, 2, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

 

[NoleATL]

I'm absolutely in favor of criminal penalties for hiring a prostitute if you are married.

Surprised you would want such government overreach... Grounds for divorce? Yes, but criminal penalty based on the married part? Nope.

 

[JupiterHawk]

Must be a lot of ice fishing going on around Dubuque

Ice fishing leads to prostitution

 

[KFSuperStar]

I wonder if there is actually human trafficking involved or if they just say that now because more and more people see this as a victimless crime.

Robert Kraft’s handy was a “human trafficking operation” too. His lawyer exposed it as total bs.

Early 2000s it was possible terrorism.

1980s just mention crack.

New key world is human trafficking to get a judge to sign off and make headlines.

Prosecutors Say There's No Evidence of Sex Trafficking In Robert Kraft Case

Prosecutors said in court on Friday that there was no evidence of sex trafficking in the case, vindicating sex workers' rights advocates.

www.rollingstone.com

 

[kwik44]

Each one of them, you'd have a rough shot guess that they have something buried in the closet.

 

[ping72]

It looks like they’re trying to shut down those sex tourism dollars from Wisconsin.

 

[Funky Bunch]

Wonder how many of them are going through divorce right now?

I'm absolutely in favor of criminal penalties for hiring a prostitute if you are married. But criminal penalties for people who are single seems like a waste of time.

It's easy to masturbate to get rid of the urge if you're married or single

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Surprised you would want such government overreach... Grounds for divorce? Yes, but criminal penalty based on the married part? Nope.

You are potentially exposing your spouse to STD's. Plus taking such a action that will obviously lead to the end of a marriage is worthy of criminal censure.

I don't think it's realistic to carry out. But I do not have a problem with adulterers spending some time in jail.

 

[NoleATL]

You are potentially exposing your spouse to STD's. Plus taking such a action that will obviously lead to the end of a marriage is worthy of criminal censure.

Civil case I could agree with. Not criminal.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Civil case I could agree with. Not criminal.

I could go with that.

I honestly think that people who took obvious actions that end a marriage should lose out on property and that should be a bare minimum. (And that includes ending a marriage because you are bored with your current spouse)

 

[cigaretteman]

I could go with that.

I honestly think that people who took obvious actions that end a marriage should lose out on property and that should be a bare minimum. (And that includes ending a marriage because you are bored with your current spouse)

That could be a slippery slope though.

 

[timinatoria]

3 of 10 perverts are apparently named Tim.

 

[nextinlineatOPsmoms]

Wonder how many of them are going through divorce right now?

I'm absolutely in favor of criminal penalties for hiring a prostitute if you are married. But criminal penalties for people who are single seems like a waste of time.

Id figure you’d be a ‘require married perpetrators to marry and repopulate the workforce with their prostitution service providers’ sort of guy

 

[nextinlineatOPsmoms]

I honestly think that people who took obvious actions that end a marriage should lose out on property

Tell me you dont know how divorce (regardless how it came about) plays out without telling me you dont know how divorce plays out

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

So, will clownhater be posting today?

 

[Joes Place]

So, will clownhater be posting today?

Only during "prison internet access hours"....

 

[cigaretteman]

Civil case I could agree with. Not criminal.

Yeah, making it criminal seems a bit of a reach.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Tell me you dont know how divorce (regardless how it came about) plays out without telling me you dont know how divorce plays out

No firsthand experience and I'm quite proud of that actually. Married to my first and only wife 12 years in April.

That said I know we made it easier to get with no fault divorce and divorces skyrocketed and so did single parent homes and all of the social ills that come with that.