Latest Craigslist Washington post and Craigslist crime wave mirrors N.C.'s past

Thinking about going on Craigslist to purchase a child at a low, low price?  From prostitution rings, rape requests and thefts, nothing compares to the recent mystery where a man tries to sell his child for the low price of $5,000. 

Rick Oberlophy, the Craigslist user name, posted that his son was for sale.  Some believe the posting was a hoax, others disregard the claims and take potential child trafficking seriously.  The posting was copied by a woman viewer before the man removed it, according to Seattle Weekly. 

"It's going to kill me to do this but I stated before I cannot afford to keep him.  His mother(r) is out of the picture and my parents no longer talk to me since I've had Gavin.  So I don't know what else to do other than find a good family with kids or a couple that want a son." 

Other descriptions were added that the child loves playing with balls, does not like playing with cars, and refused to eat vegetables. 

The Craigslist investigation involving "Rick Oberlophy" is ongoing.  However, "Gavin's" father was arrested. 

In this day and age Craigslist cannot be ruled out as a use for child trafficking since the grapes of prostitution and pimping out loved ones dangle along the Craigslist highway in fruitful bundles. 

Craigslist:  Sex for Sale

During July of 2009 illegal prostitution surfaced through Craigslist on multiple levels.  The State shares of 15 arrested in their involvement in a Craigslist prostitution ring.  Most of the prostitutes were found in a North Carolina motel.  The North Carolina bust surprised many Craigslist users.  Craigslist prostitution red flags were easy to spot, especially when the ad began to speak of meeting someone for a good time.

One month earlier North Carolina police arrested Wayne Ford, a Charlotte Craigslist user.  He wasn't selling anything that he couldn't steal.  He only wanted to meet up with a S.C. girl on Craigslist to rob and rape her at a University City motel while impersonating police officer. 

Unfortunately, North Carolina authorities were not able to stop this crime before it began.  Although it just goes to show you beware of Craigslist's sweet talkers.  Before connection on Craigslist perhaps going to a single's bar alone at night proves a safer choice.

A busy last summer as a North Carolina manhunt was on for raping a woman at knifepoint according to ABC News and local affiliates.  The missing rapist was said to have been hired by the wife's husband in order to satisfy her fantasy.  However, the woman claims otherwise as their children were less than 20 feet away in another room when she was raped. 

Theft Rings:

North Carolina has also had it's share of Craigslist thefts, including theft rings.  Between catching stolen merchandise that gallops through Craigslist and sifting illegal sex trades the North Carolina authorities has their work cut out for them as does each and every state.

As long as there remains the exotic corner of the Craigslist search where you can find just about anything and the lack of monitoring on the legality of merchandise, America may just have to live with a couple false entries hidden behind criminal motives.  But when is enough too much?

Craigslist in America:

Craigslist of Los Angeles posts include Gang Bang Videos, Horny Now, Business Man Visiting LA - I Can Show You Around, and others in between Rocket Skates. 

Why go to strip clubs, massage parlors, buy me drinkee bars, escort services, or hope to hook up with a madam willing to pimp you out for a burger and a pack of smokes when all you have to do is go through Craigslist?   

As for North Carolina's Craigslist today we find casual encounters.  However, when entering casual encounters it's not as pleasant as the title appears with explicit postings.  From give me sex ads to I'll be your maintenance man - our little secret, Craigslist continues to influence an exotic and unusual trade.  Even when they are not aware of illegal activities involving children or potential Craigslist crime waves.

North Carolina law enforcement community knows this all too well.

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Source(s):  Ely Portillo, 15 arrested in N.C. Craigslist prostitution crackdown, The State;  Los Angeles, Craigslist;  Caleb Hannan, Spokhane Father Puts Son For Sale on Craigslist, The Daily Weekly, Seattle Weekly; Sarah Netter, Police:  Husband Hires Wife's Rapist Off Craigslist for Sexual Fantasy, ABC News