Nine Arrested in Connection with CraigsList Prostitution Ring

Philadelphia police have arrested nine people in connection with an alleged prostitution ring which used Craigslist to hook up with 'Johns' at hotels near Philadelphia International Airport.

KYW's Steve Tawa reports captain Dan MacDonald, commander of the 12th police district in southwest Philadelphia says there's been an increase in violent crimes over the last 6-8 months at those locations:

"Many are attributed to prostitution rings working the airport hotels."

Lieutenant Charles Green, commanding officer of citywide vice, had undercover officers move in:

"We went down to one of the hotels, which I won't name, because we don't want to compromise the investigation, and we contacted a number of website advertisements on Craigslist, Backpage.com, an escort service listed in the City Paper."

Six women and three male companions, described by police as pimps, were arrested for soliciting, prostitution and conspiracy.

Police say 'Johns' have become 'easy marks for violent crime.' In one case last winter, a man was charged with shooting to death another man, alleged to be a pimp. Police say after his encounter with a woman, there was a dispute over lost money, and they got into an altercation over the transaction.

(Photos of 7/9 suspects provided by PPD)