ST GEORGE, Utah — A man in southern Utah is facing charges of patronizing a prostitute after he called police to report being scammed.
On Sunday night, an officer was contacted by dispatch after a Spanish-speaking male had hung up with dispatchers. When the officer contacted the man, later identified as Mariano De Jesus Lopez Marroquin, he told officers that he had paid $100 to a woman for sex, and she wasn't giving the money back.
Officers met Marroquin at his home, and he explained how he had met a woman on TikTok and was messaging her through TikTok's messages and WhatsApp. Police said the woman, who identified herself as Jennifer, told Marroquin she was an adult who lived in St. George.
At one point, Jennifer told Marroquin that she wanted to have sex, but Marroquin would have to buy condoms and a $100 Xbox gift card for her kids. Officers say the messages show Marroquin purchased the cards and sent the codes to Jennifer for her to redeem.
When Marroquin arrived at the address that Jennifer had provided him, he texted her asking her to come outside. She declined, and Marroquin threatened to call the police to report her if she didn't return the money.
Marroquin was arrested on one charge of patronizing a prostituted adult.
