Five Nabbed in Internet Prostitution Sting

Five people were arrested at a Petaluma hotel Thursday morning in a sting aimed at curbing prostitution. 

Petaluma police set up appointments with two women who listed their services on Craigslist. Undercover officers met the women at around 2am at America's Best Value hotel, located at 5135 Montero Way, and made the arrests.

Cited for prostitution were 21-year-old Victoria Barbera from Novato and 26-year-old Pashoandra Turner from Carmichael. Two men were also cited for "aiding an act of prostition."

The men, later identified as Joshua Hoye, 22, of Sacramento, and Nathan Norvell, 23, of El Cerrito, told police they were the women's "friends" who were there for their safety.

Oscar Medina, 25, of Vallejo, was issued a citation for driving on a suspended license and for possession of a controlled substance, police said.