Authorities Search For Edmond Woman Accused Of Prostitution

Prosecutors filed charges against a student at the University of Central Oklahoma for allegedly operating a house of prostitution at his off-campus apartment.

According to court records, Ali Al Yousuf, 24, was arrested at the Villas at Stonebridge in Edmond on Jan. 8 after an undercover agent found that he and a 20-year-old woman were involved in online prostitution.

3/20/2015 Related Story: Alleged Sex-For-Hire Operation In Edmond Thwarted By Undercover Agents

The undercover agent was allegedly invited to the apartment after responding to an ad for sex on Backpage.com.

When the agent arrived, Rachel Herrera, 20, allegedly accepted $150 and began to undress.

She was not arrested at the scene.

However, her boyfriend Al Yousuf was taken into custody for aiding and abetting and operating a house of prostitution.

Al Yousuf was allegedly hiding in the kitchen and claimed he had no idea Herrera was acting as an escort.

"According to the court record, this young lady has been engaged in prostitution," Brian Bates, an anti-prostitution activist pointed out after reading the probable cause affidavit. ”Apparently that's how she met her boyfriend who is now charged with basically running a brothel out of their apartment."

Bates has been tracking this case from the beginning and said there are several aspects that concern him.

"What really struck me is even though the young lady apparently posted the ad, answered the police call, directed them to her residence, had her own infant child and her minor sister present, went into a bedroom took off her clothes, took the money, and provided a condom she was not arrested at the scene," Bates said, questioning the procedures during the undercover operation.

According to court records, Herrera told investigators that her boyfriend was not forcing her to work as a prostitute but that they did shared the money she earned.

Both were evicted from the apartment following the undercover operation.

Neither has publicly addressed the charges against them.

But authorities said they are looking for Herrera. There is a warrant out for her arrest for engaging in prostitution.

Yousuf was arrested and is out of jail on a $2,500.