Navy O-5 select arrested for sex trafficking

Lt Comm Charles Cranston Jr

A US Navy security officer, who was selected for promotion to O-5/commander last year after 27 years of service, has been arrested for encouraging and assisting prostitution. According to the allegations, he was looking to be a pimp business manager for a whore. Too bad he was talking to an undercover cop.

ninja sends in the Stars and Stripes report;

A Navy security officer in Virginia tried to help further the career of an undercover detective he thought was a prostitute, posting an ad that garnered over a dozen responses, prosecutors said this week in court.

Lt. Cmdr. Charles M. Cranston Jr., of Chesapeake, Va., also told the vice detective that he had a studio and an OnlyFans page to help make money, authorities said at a hearing Tuesday in Henrico County Circuit Court, Norfolk’s WTKR News 3 reported.

A longtime member of the Navy’s law enforcement and security branch, Cranston pleaded guilty at the hearing to a charge of commercial sex trafficking to receive money.

The felony charge involves soliciting, recruiting or encouraging a person to engage in prostitution.

Cranston could face one to 10 years in prison for the felony conviction. A jury or court also has the discretion to impose a lesser sentence of up to 12 months in jail or a $2,500 fine, or both.

Neither he nor his attorney provided comment when reached by WTKR.

Cranston was arrested at a Norfolk base on Nov. 18 on charges related to an incident near Richmond early that month, police said at the time. The Navy confirmed he was then serving with U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Prosecutors at Tuesday’s hearing said Cranston had responded to an ad targeting potential sex trafficking, which was posted by the Henrico County Police Division’s vice unit on Nov. 2. Detectives worked with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service during the investigation.

Using the alias “Tony,” Cranston sent text messages agreeing to split the costs of the hotel room with the supposed prostitute and discussing what would take place there, authorities said.

His career seems to have been a good one. They report;

Cranston had served in the Navy for 27 years at the time of his arrest, his LinkedIn profile showed, including a stint as the enlisted community manager for the master-at-arms rating, where he was responsible for helping manage the careers of sailors in the security specialty.

Category: "Teh Stoopid", Crime, Dick Stepping, Navy