3 arrested in Modesto Police sting for prostitution

Modesto Police Department detectives arrested three people and cited a fourth person Wednesday at a hotel during an undercover sting operation targeting prostitution. The three women involved were from out of state, according to a police statement.

Detectives began the operation Wednesday about 10 a.m. Using Craigslist, an advertising Web site, detectives contacted several women who had posted sexually suggestive advertisements on the site along with revealing photos, according to police Sgt. Craig Gundlach.

Traci Cureton, 32, of Detroit met with an undercover detective in a hotel room on West Orangeburg Avenue and was later issued a citation on suspicion of performing adult entertainment without a permit. The charge is a misdemeanor under Modesto's Municipal Code, which requires adult entertainers, such as dancers and escorts, to obtain a permit from the Police Department.

Later in the afternoon, detectives contacted Nitaya Dennis, 19, of Denver, Gundlach said. He said Dennis met an undercover detective at the same hotel and agreed to perform sex acts for money. Dennis was arrested, and during the investigation, detectives contacted Erin Holden, 19, of Centennial, Colo., and Holden's boyfriend, Devon Bradford, 30, of Salinas.

Holden and Bradford had set up the encounter with the undercover detective, brought Dennis to the hotel and received a portion of the money Dennis was paid by the undercover detective, Gundlach said.

Holden and Bradford were in the hotel parking lot when detectives contacted them. Bradford was in his vehicle with a 26-year-old woman. Detectives learned that Bradford had just picked her up as she was walking down Carver Road. Gundlach said Bradford had offered the woman drugs and was in the process of recruiting her to become a prostitute for him when detectives arrived. The woman later was released.

Dennis was arrested on suspicion of prostitution and on an escape warrant out of Colorado. Holden and Bradford were arrested on suspicion of pimping.

This story was originally published June 28, 2008 at 12:59 AM with the headline "3 arrested in Modesto Police sting for prostitution."