3 charged with running sex ring that catered to elected officials, other wealthy clients

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER
Updated 1:25 PM CST, November 8, 2023

BOSTON (AP) — Three people have been charged with running a sophisticated commercial sex ring in Massachusetts and eastern Virginia that catered to well-connected clients such as elected officials and military officers, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Women were featured on websites that falsely claimed to advertise nude Asian models for professional photography, and high-end apartments with monthly rents as high as $3,660 were used as brothels, prosecutors say. Another website allowed clients to rate the women, prosecutors say.

“This commercial sex ring was built on secrecy and exclusivity, catering to a wealthy and well-connected clientele, and business was booming, until today,” Levy said.

Authorities have not named the people believed to have bought services through the ring, and none of them have been charged. But Acting Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Josh Levy stressed that the investigation is in the early stages, and said that prosecutors are committed to holding accountable both those who ran the scheme and those who “fueled the demand for this ring.”




Read more: https://apnews.com/article/commercial-sex-ring-brothel-network-arrests-78c707fea8491665f01e93671b0e6c25

[RainWalker]

1. Oh oh.....elected officials?

Well this will be interesting to watch unfold.

[hueymahl]

2. It is long overdue for sex work to be decrimminalized

This is a non-story unless someone was being forced or children were involved.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

3. They were charged with trafficking nt

[jimfields33]

4. Definitely! As long as the women involved

are ok with it and can leave the business on their terms, I’m all about decriminalizing this.

[whathehell]

14. "Trafficking" means the women are NOT ok with it.

[brooklynite]

18. No, it probably means the Government is using the law to the best of their ability...

High end prostitution rings don't generally use uncooperative participants. It probably means they were flown in across State lines, so the Government can claim "trafficking"

[whathehell]

19. If that's really the case, then

good for the government..I'd need documentation, though, to be entirely convinced. Whatever the particulars
of this case, I'm not one to shrug off prostitution as a "victimless" crime.

[Trueblue Texan]

37. It's not like the very powerful are usually concerned with anyone else's autonomy and freedom. nt

[whathehell]

40. I'm sorry, but

I'm not really sure what you're trying to say in response to my post..Could you explain?

[Trueblue Texan]

41. I was giving the government the benefit of the doubt since the very powerful often don't do much to stop victimization.

[whathehell]

42. Okay, I see what you're saying.

[Bluethroughu]

32. See Jeffery Epstine...

Those girls were not all willing participants.

[Farmer-Rick]

33. Exactly,

Epstein was prosecuted for trafficking and those girls were kept in cages. When you have to cage people, they aren't willing participants.

No, trafficking is not merely about using the law to get at willing participants. If those women were/are willing, it will come out in court and the state/feds will lose. I doubt prosecutors want a losing case.

Legalized sex work requires good regulations, health and welfare exams and frequent inspections to ensure participants are of legal age and willing.

[Bev54]

7. If it is all consensual but if trafficked women involved, it is another story.

The story, no doubt will be the hypocrisy of some politicians.

[whathehell]

15. Maybe, but if they are being charged, what's

overdue is the "consumers" being charged along with the "providers". The term "trafficked", by the way, means "forced"

[Maraya1969]

17. Or if MikeJohnson is on the list.

[KS Toronado]

21. I was thinking that's why he doesn't have a bank account.

We still haven't seen Jeffery Epstein's black book, I'm betting we'll never see this client list.

[mahina]

29. We don't know that he doesn't have a bank account just that he didn't list one

Could be because it was under the thousand dollar balance threshold, if I remember right
Super suspicious anyway

[Maraya1969]

35. We never saw Heidi Fleiss's black box either. Maybe the ones in charge don't share them

because they are in them? Or a bunch of powerful and wealthy people come by with wades of cash?

[KS Toronado]

36. Another scenario could be blackmail

Doesn't Moscow Mitch like Oriental women?

[sadasfyed]

39. no, he is fighting his gay or pedo urges

[C Moon]

24. I always thought about that too, but I think forced and child involvement would get worse if it were legalized.

[COL Mustard]

31. If the military officers referenced

Are identified, they'll face charges of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. It's in the UCMJ and soliciting prostitution is one offense that's specifically called out. If they hold security clearances (and they do), they'll also face the loss of those because of behavior that could lead to being blackmailed.

Otherwise, yes, it's personal behavior and while icky shouldn't necessarily be illegal unless it involves children or human trafficking.

[Basic LA]

5. I guess Iran isn't the only place with ...

... Morality Police.

[Bev54]

6. Are we going to see a series of retirement announcements, of those who want

"to spend more time with family"?

[mahina]

30. Or

Spend more time with their lawyers

[Mawspam2]

8. Out the Johns and/or Jills.

Time to name names, especially those with security clearances.

[getagrip_already]

9. $600/ hour before tips? Thats some pricey times....

I wonder if that's how you manage to spend $500k for dinners in 2 years at a steak house in DC on your expense account?

[oldsoftie]

10. As I said in the other OP, when will we see arrests of the men??

Or their names?
Anyone? Bueller?

[Stuart G]

11. "Oh No, Say It Ain't So"...."The Shadow Know."

[Hotler]

12. This will disappear just like the Panama Papers, Epstein client list. Isn't there a

NY Madam client list from the 1980's that disappeared also?

[not fooled]

13. Yeah, I wouldn't bet against that.

There will be a brief flurry of coverage, almost guaranteed to not include the names of clients.

[whathehell]

20. Don't be so sure..

Justice, on occasion, does prevail.

[C Moon]

23. I agree: this one won't disappear, it's involving too many states.

[whathehell]

25. Yes, and as I'm guessing you'd agree..

that's a good thing.

[C Moon]

26. Agreed. Not meant in a negative way.

[whathehell]

27. .......

[rickford66]

16. How to legally pay for sex.

Produce a porno movie and cast yourself as one of the actors.

[C Moon]

22. One of those arrested was in the area that I live: Torrance, California is about 2 miles from me.

[Aussie105]

28. It's the Jeffrey Epstein model for running a business.

Worked well for him, until it didn't.

If it turns out this involved transporting young ladies across state borders for the sex trade, it won't go well for some.

[onetexan]

34. Sex, lies & politics...nothing new, though i would like to know whose on the list

Of clienteles😁

[sadasfyed]

38. I am perfectly okay with any woman deciding to be a sex worker, manage her own bookings, pay taxes, rent an apartment

and escorting for a fee as long as no one else gets paid for her services. That is a business and men cannot afford a family, house or kids at today's wages. Personally I chose to never marry but to contract with a man one year at a time. He never has to pay alimony and I don't have to take disrespect or abuse of any kind. He pays up front every year and I am wife, confidant and personal aide. Simple, not bloody and absolutely no kids. So far, in 40 yrs, we are all still best friends, no resentments nor hate. Marriage is a death sentence for women, and a fear for men.