Jack_Maehoffer
07-08-2004, 10:32 AM
Burlington, Vermont -- July 7, 2004
It's unlikely the state of Vermont will file prostitution charges stemming from the shutdown of three Chittenden County massage parlors, according to the county prosecutor.
State and federal authorities are still going over the evidence seized last week in the raids on three Asian massage spas.
But the Chittenden County prosecutor says there is probably not enough evidence to bring state charges of prostitution or soliciting.
It's been a nearly a week since authorities raided and closed three Asian massage spas located in Essex Junction, Williston, and South Burlington.
Police say the spas were actually houses of prostitution with sex services provided by Asian women smuggled into the U.S. by organized crime.
Police say the women and those who run the spas could face a host of federal charges, immigration smuggling, conspiracy to cross state lines for prostitution, money laundering, and racketeering.
But Chittenden County Prosecutor Bob Simpson says it's too soon to know precisely, but he's almost certain he will not charge the women with prostitution.
As far as he is concerned, they are victims, not predators.
Under Vermont law, the men who bought the alleged sex services in the spas could also be charged with soliciting, which is a misdemeanor in Vermont carrying a maximum of two years in prison. But even if police discover lists of alleged customers, Simpson says it would not be strong enough evidence to charge the men with a crime.
"Let's assume for the sake of argument there were credit cards receipts that would be for a massage," said Simpson.
"I'm not certain we'd be able to prove that they got the extras that we're talking about," he added.
Brian Joyce - Channel 3 News
It's unlikely the state of Vermont will file prostitution charges stemming from the shutdown of three Chittenden County massage parlors, according to the county prosecutor.
State and federal authorities are still going over the evidence seized last week in the raids on three Asian massage spas.
But the Chittenden County prosecutor says there is probably not enough evidence to bring state charges of prostitution or soliciting.
It's been a nearly a week since authorities raided and closed three Asian massage spas located in Essex Junction, Williston, and South Burlington.
Police say the spas were actually houses of prostitution with sex services provided by Asian women smuggled into the U.S. by organized crime.
Police say the women and those who run the spas could face a host of federal charges, immigration smuggling, conspiracy to cross state lines for prostitution, money laundering, and racketeering.
But Chittenden County Prosecutor Bob Simpson says it's too soon to know precisely, but he's almost certain he will not charge the women with prostitution.
As far as he is concerned, they are victims, not predators.
Under Vermont law, the men who bought the alleged sex services in the spas could also be charged with soliciting, which is a misdemeanor in Vermont carrying a maximum of two years in prison. But even if police discover lists of alleged customers, Simpson says it would not be strong enough evidence to charge the men with a crime.
"Let's assume for the sake of argument there were credit cards receipts that would be for a massage," said Simpson.
"I'm not certain we'd be able to prove that they got the extras that we're talking about," he added.
Brian Joyce - Channel 3 News