PORTLAND — Four men who thought they were responding to Internet ads placed by prostitutes found themselves charged by city police in a sting operation Monday, Police Lt. James Sweatt announced Thursday.

Sweatt said Jason T. Rickett, 31, and Nicholas G. St. Amand, 29, both of Gorham ; Buxton resident Jack L. Chase, 50; and Andrew M. Woody, 50, of Westbrook, each face Class E charges of engaging a prostitute. The charges carry a maximum fine of $1,000 and a six-month jail sentence.

Chase was also charged with assaulting an undercover police officer, who was uninjured, Sweatt said.

Sweatt said the operation was conducted in recognition that customers drive the illegal human trafficking trade.

“This operation targeted those who use the Internet to purchase sex,” Sweatt said. Times and locations of the arrested were not provided by police.

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