Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach women charged in Craigslist sex sting

NEWPORT NEWS

Undercover Newport News police officers said they charged women from Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and Newport News with prostitution Tuesday after making contact with them on the Web site Craigslist.

From 2 p.m. to midnight, officers contacted women who they said were offering sex for money, according to a police news release.

Police met the first woman at her apartment in the 700 block of Shadwell Court in Newport News, the release says. Lashonda Sallaway was charged with prostitution and possession of marijuana and was issued a summons, according to the release.

Investigators met several other women at a motel in the 700 block of J. Clyde Morris Blvd. and charged each of them with prostitution, they said. One of the women also was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Police said the following women were charged with prostitution:

- Angela Thigpen, 32, of the 1700 block of Luckie St. in Portsmouth

- Patricia-Ann Rausch, 35, of the 8600 block of Glen Myrtle Ave. in Norfolk

- Jessica Kidd, 28, whose last known address in Newport News was not available

- Shaleta Stevens, 29, of the 1200 block of 28th St. in Newport News

- Amanda Cox, 18, of the 4500 block of Marshall Ave., in Newport News

- Maria Hawkins, 19, of the 100 block of Runaway Bay Drive in Virginia Beach

- Shamerc Leonard, 22, of the 600 block of Hampton Ave. in Newport News

- Chamanda Johnson, of Shadwell Court in Newport News. Her age was not available. Johnson also was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana

Danielle Charlene O’Toole, 20, of the 1800 block of Norview Ave. in Norfolk, was charged with prostitution and illegal possession of a Schedule 2 drug, a felony, according to police.

The prostitution charges are misdemeanors.