Atlantic City Prostitution Sweep Nets 29 Arrests

Sweep was part of FBI investigation of underage prostitution

Atlantic City Police say that 29 people were arrested Friday night in a sweep that was part of a nationwide investigation into underage prostitution.

The arrests were made as part of the FBI's "Operation Cross Country VI," which targets groups or individuals that traffic minors for prostitution.  Members of the FBI’s Innocence Lost Task
Force, the Atlantic County Sheriffs Department, the New Jersey Department of
Human Services Police and the New Jersey State Police also participated in the roundup.

All 29 arrested people were remanded to the Atlantic County Justice facility in lieu of cash bail, the amount of which varied between $1,000 and $2,000. The full list of those arrested is below.

  • Rashidah Brice, 22, of Claymont, Delaware
  • Jessica Coyle, 19, of Gardena, California
  • Nishi Taggert, 19, of Fresno, California
  • Alexis Nance, 20, of Avon Park, Florida
  • Stacey Hughes, 34, of Atlantic City
  • Renee Johnson, 23, of Philadelphia
  • Porla Nelson, 27, of Fresno, California
  • Bertha Rodgers, 41, of Tewksbury, New Jersey
  • Elisha Barnes, 49, of Pleasantville, New Jersey
  • Zachary Howard Jr., 34, of Atlantic City
  • Michelle Mariscal, 30, of Medesto, California
  • Tina Knox, 32, of Atlantic City
  • Latonya Mitchell, 43, of Atlantic City
  • Amanda Santiago, 21, of Gloucester, New Jersey
  • Lateesha Thomas, 22, of Camden, New Jersey
  • Christine Conover, 51, of Atlantic City
  • Jaleasa Washington, 22, of Philadelphia
  • Nicole Higgins, 23, of Las Vegas
  • Marketa Thorpe, 24, of Atlantic City
  • Ashley Patterson, 21, of Winter Garden, Florida
  • Brittany Marsden, 22, of Orlando
  • Tawny Bernat, 20, of Elmer, New Jersey
  • Christina Ware, 21, of Atlantic City
  • Temalisi Nepote, 20, of Salt Lake City
  • Samantha Roman, 24, of Newark
  • Maria Russo, 27, of Atlantic City
  • Yesenia Morales, 21, of Atlantic City
  • Diana King, 31, of Margate, New Jersey
  • Nikilina Demartino, 30, of Atlantic City
     

Stay with NBC10.com for more on this developing story.


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