Mar 6, 2008 12:31 pm US/Eastern
Manhattan Prostitution Ring Yields 4 Arrests
NEW YORK (AP) ―
Four organizers and managers of an international ring were arrested after they ranked prostitutes on a Web site with one to seven diamondscharging wealthy clients $2,000 extra for a seven-diamond woman, prosecutors said Thursday.
U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia announced that charges were unsealed in Manhattan accusing the four of participating in a prostitution ring that called itself Emperors Club VIP.
Authorities said the defendants arranged connections between wealthy men and more than 50 prostitutes in New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris. Clients paid between $1,000 and $5,500 per hour for services.
The defendants were charged with conspiracy to violate federal prostitution laws. Two of those charged were also accused of conspiring to launder more than $1 million in illicit proceeds from the prostitution crimes.
All four were arrested Thursday morning and were expected to make an initial court appearance later in the day.
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