Tamara Cotton, 25, and Christina Holt, 19, were arrested separately and were not
working together, Cook County Sheriff's officials said Thursday.
Cotton was arrested Dec. 31 when an undercover officer arrived at her apartment
and a 16-year-old girl offered to perform a sex act for $200, according to the
sheriff's department. advertisement
While out on bond, Cotton was arrested again on Jan. 5 when she allegedly drove
another girl to meet an undercover officer who had arranged a sexual encounter.
Cotton was charged with pimping and related offenses.
Police arrested Holt on Monday and charged her with keeping a house of
prostitution for allegedly arranging a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old
girl.
The three minors arrested were not taken into custody, sheriff's spokeswoman
Sally Daly said.
"We've considered them to be more the victims in this case, given the fact that
they were being pimped by adults," Daly said.
The Craigslist ads answered by the officers offered sex acts in exchange for
"donations" or "roses" - meaning money, according to police. The ads featured
photos of unidentified women.
In an e-mail to the Chicago Tribune, Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster said the
site prohibits illegal activity and intends its erotic services page for "legal
escort services and sensual massage providers."
Associated Press
