JACKSONVILLE, FLa. -- Jacksonville police arrested seven men for soliciting sex from an escort in an undercover sting operation.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said this crackdown was important because what happens in hotel rooms often leads to other violent crimes.

"It's tied in some way to narcotics use or sales...whether it be crack or pills or crystal meth," a JSO undercover officer who could not be identified told Channel 4's Karen Guglielmoni.

The officer said that 99.9 percent of escort services are a front for prostitution.

JSO arrested johns using a decoy in a similar way they fight prostitution on the streets.

"The people who run the escort services are a lot more sophisticated in the way they set up their business, but again its got to be addressed just like the street prostitutes," the officer said.

The sting was operated out of a hotel room. A man would call to set up a date with an escort. He'd pay a fee up front, just to meet with the woman, but when they offered more money for sex, they were immediately arrested.

Even though some escort services try to appear legitimate by advertising a license number police said be aware that there are no licensed escort services in Jacksonville.