May 21, 2009 6:00 am US/Eastern
7 Arrested In NYC Craigslist Prostitution Ring
Cuomo: Unless More Is Done, Site Will 'Continue To Be Environment Where Criminal Operations Thrive'
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
A New York City prostitution ring run primarily on Craigslist has been busted, and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo ripped into the site Wednesday, saying it will continue to be a haven for illegal activity until it takes more action to prevent crime.
Seven people were arrested and charged in a 47-count indictment for taking part in the service operated out of Queens.
"Until Craigslist gets serious about putting real protections in place, it will continue to be an environment where criminal operations thrive with impunity," Cuomo said.
Scott Sal Rosenberg, 45, and Josef Davenport, 31, are accused of co-owning and operating Room Service Entertainment (RSE), headquartered in Ozone Park and advertised exclusively in the Erotic Services section of Craigslist. According to Cuomo, RSE bookers would post ads on the site that contain pornographic images and a phone number to arrange a date with a prostitute, and continuously post new listings to keep their ads prominently featured.
When potentials clients would call the number listed, bookers at the Ozone Park office would answer the numerous phone lines and ask callers his location and what he was looking for, before setting up appointments with various prostitutes. According to Cuomo, "the bookers were instructed not to explicitly discuss sex during the telephone conversations with the Johns and instead use designated terms to describe the services. For example GFE means girl friend experience or skiing and rock climbing means drugs and partying."
If the John wanted to go through with the service, the booker would then send out a driver to escort the prostitute to an arranged location.
The operation ran from June 2007 through December 2008, servicing the New York City region, though it initially began with ads in the Village Voice and other New York City periodicals.
Five bookers for the service were also arrested and charged in the bust.
In a statement released Wednesday, Cuomo said more needs to be done on Craigslist to prevent other rings from operating.
"Even after so-called reform of the Web site last fall, this prostitution ring easily gamed the system and allegedly used Craigslist to spread its illegal operation throughout all five boroughs and beyond," Cuomo said. "Today's arrests underscore the inherent risks posed by Craigslist and, most importantly, the need for protections that are full-fledged, not half-baked."
From June 2007 through December 2008, RSE allegedly employed numerous bookers, drivers, and prostitutes. Although RSE initially advertised in The Village Voice and other local papers, Craigslist became the sole vehicle through which the company operated. The bookers for RSE continuously created and posted prostitution advertisements on Craigslists Erotic Services section because the more current the post, the more prominently the ad was featured on Craigslist. These postings contained either a pornographic or semi-pornographic photograph and a phone number to call to arrange a date.
Each suspect has been charged with enterprise corruption, among other charges including conspiracy and money laundering and face up to 25 years in prison.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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