6 Arrested In Undercover Prostitution Operation Near DeLand

Posted
DeLand, FL - Six people are taken into custody by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office during an undercover prostitution crackdown near DeLand. All the arrests took place Saturday night in the area of South Clara and West Carroll avenues, according to VCSO spokesperson Laura Williams. "The sting was prompted by a complaint to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office about prostitutes in the area," Williams added. "A total of 10 misdemeanors and two felony charges were issued." Five of the six arrested are women, all of whom were charged with solicitation. A man - 40-year-old Vincent Evans - was also charged for deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution, according to Volusia County Jail records. The names and ages of the women arrested are posted below.

Jessica Gravell (30)

Crystal Jennings (34)

Ellen Joyner (36)

Jessica Kostival (32)

Brandi Sue Wells (37)

As of this afternoon (August 26th), Evans remains at VCJ on $3,000 bond for the charge mentioned above as well as possession of drug paraphernalia and an open warrant for failing to appear in court on a petit theft charge. Like Evans, Gravell was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. She remains at VCJ on $1,000 bond. VCSO also charged Jennings and Wells with possession of drug paraphernalia, but both have since left VCJ after posting bond. Joyner is held without bond on two charges: possession of drug paraphernalia and violating probation. Prior to this arrest, she was on probation for aggravated battery on a person 65 years of age or older. Kostival has left VCJ on bond. Other than Wells, all the others who were arrested have at least nine prior bookings at VCJ, according to jail records.