7 nabbed in online prostitution sting

Joseph Francis Andolino Joseph Francis Andolino Photo: HCSO Photo: HCSO Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close 7 nabbed in online prostitution sting 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

Authorities in Texas took to the Internet to nab seven men accused of arranging to pay for sex in north Harris County during an undercover prostitution sting Thursday.

One of the suspects is Joseph Francis Andolino, a 59-year-old senior vice president with Halliburton.

An official with Halliburton confirmed that Andolino is an executive at the oil field services giant. "We expect our officers and employees to maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct, but we do not comment on personal matters," a statement from Halliburton said.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office conducted the operation that was focused on people soliciting sex online, deputies said. Undercover deputies posed as female escorts online and arranged to meet the men at spots off Interstate 45 and F.M. 1960.

Deputies said when the men arrived and agreed with undercover deputies on a price for sex, they were arrested.

In addition to Andolino, arrested and charged with prostitution in the sting were Eric Lucero, 43; Jose Dubon, 32; Richard Wayne Learn, 63; Richard Anthony Thompson, 51; Dean Andrew Starke, 52; Michael Allen Barth, 50.

Prostitution is a misdemeanor unless a person has three convictions for the offense, when it becomes a state jail felony, said Donna Hawkins, spokeswoman for the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office on a regular basis targets people soliciting sex via the Internet as well on the street, said Christina Garza, office spokeswoman.