St. Charles police arrested five men who allegedly arranged to meet an undercover female police officer for sex May 6 and May 7.

The men, ranging in ages from 35 to 57, were each charged with one count of solicitation of a sexual act when they responded to a phony ad in Craig’s list and arranged to meet the officer at various locations in St. Charles.

Nicholas J. Stauropoulos, 42, 1108 Sixth St., St. Charles; William J. Breedlove, 42, of North Barrington; Lanny D. Forrester, 57, of Downers Grove; Phillip L. Haltom, 52, of Hinsdale; and Damon R. Thaker, 37, of Warrenville, agreed to turn themselves in.

Police organized the undercover sting after a St. Charles resident complained about suspicious ads offering massages in the St. Charles area last fall, St. Charles police Sgt. Steve Huffman said. Police began to monitor suspicious massage ads last fall and decided to go forward with an undercover sting

“It’s not illegal to post an ad for a massage service,” he said. “The ad becomes illegal when sex is solicited for money.”

On April 24, police posted an ad offering “massage services.” After the men made it clear they wanted “sexual acts for money,” they were taken into custody, Huffman said.

“What we’re trying to do is discourage the posting of illegitimate services and discourage customers from using the illegitimate services,” Huffman said.

Huffman it was the first such investigation conducted by the St. Charles Police Department.