9 arrested in prostitution sting

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Nine men were arrested during a prostitution sting on Thursday, said Fort Myers Police officials.

Authorities conducted an undercover operation on Cleveland Avenue where female officers posed as street prostitutes in an attempt to be solicited by individuals looking to receive sexual acts for money.

Police arrested the following nine people for a variety of offenses:

Derek Joy, 47,of Lehigh Acres is facing charges of solicitation for the purposes of prostitution and driving with a suspended license.

Dirk Perry, 39, of Cape Coral is charged with solicitation and possession of marijuana less than 20 grams.

Emmanuel Rivera, 26, of Cape Coral is charged with solicitation, FTA misdemeanor warrant and driving with a suspended license.

Authorities charged Salvatore Diforca, 50, of Cape Coral; and Dardo Gonzalez-Calcerrada, 32, of Cape Coral with solicitation for the purposes of prostitution.

John Eford, 44, of Fort Myers is facing multiple charges of solicitation, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, smuggling contraband into a detention facility, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Thomas Lapointe, 35, of Cape Coral is charged with solicitation, exposure of sexual organs, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officials say Christian Esquival, 31, of Labelle is facing charges of solicitation and driving with a suspended license.

UPDATE: All charges against the ninth suspect known as “EEH”, of North Fort Myers, have been dropped after successful completion of a Pretrial Diversion Program on Sept. 24, 2015.