RICHMOND, Va. – Four men were arrested in a prostitution sting carried out by the Richmond Police Department on Saturday, according to a department post on social media.
The operation, called “Buyers Remorse,” was conducted in the 1400 block of East Main Street and focused on addressing not just illegal sex transactions but the deeper exploitation that often accompanies them.
Donald Stipp, Alfonso Poou, Richard Manis III, and Ivan Alavez were taken into custody after allegedly attempting to purchase sex from undercover officers.
Richmond police emphasized that the effort goes beyond targeting buyers. “Many of the women involved in prostitution have been battered, raped, or manipulated—forced into things they may not have chosen under different circumstances,” the department said. “These situations are often driven by addiction, desperation, or the lasting effects of past trauma.”
The operation lasted only a few hours but had a significant impact. Police say more similar operations are planned for the future.
