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Two Laurel men were among 13 arrested by Howard County police during a prostitution sting Friday along Route 1 in Jessup.

Carlos Garcia-Ruiz, 29, and Jose Montero-Gutierez, 21, were arrested and charged with solicitation of prostitution after they allegedly offered undercover female police officers money for sex. The two were also detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on suspicion of being in the country illegally.

This was the fifth such sting this year by Howard County police, said police spokeswoman Elizabeth Schroen. She said female plain clothes officers have typically set up on portions of Route 1 in Jessup, North Laurel and other areas identified by police and residents as frequent prostitution sites.

Police have arrested 61 men in the operations this year. Eleven men, including four Laurel residents, were arrested during an Aug. 5 sting at Route 1 and Whiskey Bottom Road in North Laurel.

"There's a predominance of hotels and motels, and that's why we set up in this area," Schroen said. "The only way to stay effective is to continue to do them periodically."

Other Prince George's County residents arrested Friday were Jesus Reyes Andrade-Joya, 27, of Oxon Hill; Jhomy Roblero, 33, of Temple Hills; and Jaine A. Villtoro-Jerez, 39, of Lanham. Roblero was also detained by ICE officials.

In Maryland, solicitation of prostitution is punishable by a maximum of one year in prison and a $500 fine.

dhill@gazette.net