Fort Myers prostitution stings nets 18 arrests

Fort Myers police arrested 18 people, including a Naples man, Wednesday during a prostitution sting.

Authorities conducted an operation to address reports of prostitution that the department has received. The sting took place near Palm Beach Boulevard and Van Buren Avenue.

Authorities said female officers posed as street prostitutes.

The following people were arrested and charged with solicitation of prostitution: David Courtney, 66, Fort Myers; Hector Ruiz Sotelo, 21, Fort Myers; Tomas Leon, 25, Fort Myers; Robert Rollins, 50, Fort Myers; Lester G. Holland, 53, Naples; Sergo Luis Gutierrez, 41, Arlington, Texas; Diones Alberto Graciano, 58, Arlington, Texas; Vigilio C. Ramirez, 55, Lehigh Acres; Carlos J. Gaston, 39, Fort Myers; Estabal Gonzalez Lux, 26, Fort Myers; Fransico Lux Merrijildo, 28, Fort Myers; Oscor Gomez, 20, Gulfport, Miss.; Antonio Carlos Jimenez, 29, Fort Myers; Marcelo Melgaco, 33, Fort Myers; Jose M. Lopez, 36, Fort Myers; Paul K. Gorsuch, 22, Cape Coral; Luis A. Rivera, 25, Lehigh Acres; Jorge Amilcar Perez-Gomez, 28, Fort Myers;