The MMP 30th Anniversary Kick-Off Party will be held at their brand new Drop In Center, the first of its kind in Los Angeles. The Drop In Center is a harm reduction intervention site where women involved in prostitution can come for assistance getting out of the life, basic needs of life, counseling, groups, support and guidance. The center provides free condoms, HIV testing, counseling, hygiene kits, food, and other forms of aid to help prostitutes cope with their difficult lives and slowly but surely take the steps that will get them out of prostitution. The Drop In Center is an ideal place for guests to learn more about MMP’s services and facilities, and tours will be given of the new center from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Mary Magdalene Project gives women who have been victimized by street prostitution the opportunity to turn their lives around. Through intensive and comprehensive programs from the residential Hayman House program to the Drop In Center, the women face, cope with and then overcome the many obstacles that life has dealt them. New relationships are formed, skills and strengths are discovered. The Mary Magdalene Project is a successful program that begins the transformation.

Come join the MMP in a celebration of 30 years of helping women. The MMP Drop In Center is located at 7136 Haskell Avenue, Suite 125, Van Nuys, CA. Please RSVP by calling 818-988-4970. More Information about the MMP can be found at their website www.mmp.org.

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Contact: Dr. Martin McCombs, Executive Director
Mary Magdalene Project
Trevor Gould, Public Relations
Email: MMc4mmp@aol.com or
trevorcitytv@hotmail.com
Dr. Martin McCombs 818-988-4970
Trevor Gould 858-663-8091

According to law enforcement, a woman from Nebraska called the Santa Barbara police after she received a call from her missing 18-year old daughter. The mother told police her daughter alleged she was being held against her will at a motel on upper State Street.

When police responded to the motel to investigate they learned that two women and one male had been staying in the room but had checked out an hour before. Police also learned from witnesses that the three left in a white Cadillac with Oklahoma license plates.

Within hours, deputies with the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Department spotted the car on the highway and stopped it for further investigation.

Detectives determined that “Boughton had used threats, coercion and physical abuse to force the 18-year old woman to engage in prostitution and prevent her from fleeing.” Detectives have not yet determined what if any involvement the third woman had in the alleged sex trafficking. Reports also indicate that guns and drugs were found in the suspect’s car.

Boughton is currently being held on a $100,000 bond.

A quick records check by JohnTV.com shows that Boughton is indeed from Oklahoma and has twice been charged with felony crimes in Oklahoma County. In January and May of 2008 Boughton was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon stemming from an incident in November of 2007. In both cases the charges were dismissed at the request of the District Attorney’s office because the victim and witness either refused to testify or could not be located. According to Oklahoma City records, Boughton has at least a dozen outstanding city warrants for his arrest.

*The booking photo appearing in this article is from a prior arrest in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Prostitutes as young as 15 were routinely beaten and deprived of food if they didn’t earn $500 a day selling their bodies, the Brooklyn district attorney’s office found.

Pimps went to schools to find hookers for their operations in Bushwick, Brownsville and East New York, according to indictments unsealed earlier this month.

The teens and older women worked out of hotels, motels and the pimps’ apartments and on the street – known as “the track,” investigators said.

Their services were advertised on sites such as craigslist, Backpage and other adult Internet pages – as recently as last month, the court papers say.

Investigators uncovered four distinct operations, three of them run by Bloods gang members.

One of the accused ringleaders is Abking Wilcox, 30, a Bloods member with previous arrests for assault, weapons possession and promoting prostitution.

“He kept the girls prisoner in his house and if they didn’t make the $500 minimum he beat them,” an investigator said.

Wilcox is also accused of working a separate prostitution racket trafficking with James Kortu, a member of the Bloods’ Horsegang unit, and Christiann Woodberry.

“Woodberry was the eyes and ears for Kortu; she trained the girls, told them never to look another pimp in the eye and to get the money first, before sex,” said an investigator.

“If she saw the girls sitting on a curb or resting because they were tired, she called Kortu, who beat them,” the investigator said.

Wilcox, who was also charged with rape, has been arrested. Kortu, who also had a 15-year-old girl working for him, is at large.

Authorities say a third ring was run by Tenisha Sanders, her cousin, Bernadette Mosely, and her son, Eric Sanders.

They are all charged with sex trafficking, including recruiting and abusing yet another 15-year-old.

The teen was having problems at home and moved in with Sanders – who forced her to have sex with Eric, prosecutors say.

“Bernadette Mosely took her to the dates that were arranged via the Internet,” said an investigator.

When the teenager balked, she was beaten and otherwise threatened into submission, the source said.

Bloods members Lathaniel McCoy and Kareem Clark operated a fourth ring out of the Imperial Hotel at 2550 East New York Ave., and also had a 15-year-old working for them, the indictment said.

The investigation began with a domestic violence complaint from a woman who told authorities she was a prostitute.

That led to interviews with other hookers and information about the teenagers, who are now either in foster care or reunited with their families.

The eight accused sex traffickers face up to 25 years in prison, if convicted.

Thoren was arrested June 17 during a prostitution sting targeting Internet ads she and two other women placed online. Also arrested were Virgen Perez Velazquez, 39, and Bobbi Jo Rennicks, 32. Rennicks is a roommate of Thoren’s.

If convicted, Thoren would be barred from ever owning a day care facility in the future. All three have been released on bond to await future court dates.

1. Pimp sentenced for trafficking two teenage girls: Dwayne Lawson, 29, of Washington, D.C. was sentenced to 17 1/2 years in federal prison as part of a plea agreement for his part in prostituting two teenage girls. According to court papers, Lawson met a 17-year old girl on MySpace and after promising to make her a “star” began prostituting her in various cities and states. The second victim was forced to prostitute in “various counties and states” throughout 2008.
2. Pimp charged with trafficking 12-year old: Derwin Smith, 42, of Glen Burnie, Md., has been charged with the human sex trafficking of a 12-year-old girl from Washington, D.C. in New Jersey and Maryland.  Smith is currently being held on $3 million bond. The victim had been reported missing by her parents on May 25. Authorities believe the victim was already working as a prostitute when she met Smith and after meeting him he allegedly held her against her will and prostituted her at various locations while keeping all the money. (link)
3. Murdered prostitute kept list of dangerous ‘Johns’: Teri-Lyn Williams, 41, was a known Canadian street prostitute when she was found murdered along the side of the road in Surrey, B.C. by a passerby on June 9. Authorities say that Williams kept a list of dangerous ‘Johns’ and others that might mean to do her harm. Reportedly Williams had told her boyfriend that if anything happened to her, police should take a close look at the people on that list. (Link 1 – Link 2)
4. 5 arrested prostitutes claim business is bad: Five women arrested for prostitution in Fort Walton Beach, FL., tell police that “business” in the area has been down recently. The five women, ranging in age from 33-47, were all arrested in the same motel after placing ads in the news paper, Craigslist and other websites. Undercover police agents responded to the ads and placed the women under arrest. Charges range from misdemeanor to felony based on prior arrest records. (Link)
5. Sentence handed down for Sex-for-World-Series tickets: Susan Finkelstein, 44, of Philadelphia became worldwide news when she was arrested for allegedly offering to perform sex for a couple of World-Series tickets last year. The initial charge of prostitution was dismissed and replaced with attempting prostitution. Her sentence was recently announced and it appears she will emerge fairly unscathed (minus her reputation). Finkelstein was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. Judge Albert Cepparulo urged Finkelstein to speak to groups of women about the dangers of the Internet. (previous story 1, previous story 2)
6. Columbus ‘John’ says prostitute set him up to be robbed: A 54-year-old ‘John’ in Columbus, GA., reported to local police that a street prostitute set him up to be robbed by two men. According to police, the ‘John’ took a prostitute to the Georgian Motel on June 7. Once in the room the ‘John’ went into the bathroom and the prostitute let two men into the motel room. The men reportedly told the ‘John’ they would hurt him if he did not turn over his money and ATM card. The ‘John’ was not injured. (Moral of this story ~ Go looking for a hooker and you may get screwed in ways you never planned on.)
7. ‘Crossbow Cannibal’ a criminology student: Stephen Griffiths, 40, A doctoral student researching murder appeared in court recently on charges of killing three prostitutes in northern England. When asked to give his name, Griffiths said, “the crossbow cannibal.” His three victims ranged in age from 31 to 43. 36-year-old Suzanne Blamires’ body parts were found dumped in a river. British tabloids had latched onto and sensationalized the murders. Griffiths is being held without bond. (Link)
8. Mother of two scores arrest number 207 in Tennessee: Rhonda Heisler, 42, and mother of two has become a regular in the Portland, Tenn. area jails with over 200 arrests on crimes ranging from prostitution to public drunkenness, DUI, weapons, and theft. Heisler, listed as a transient, was arrested for her 207th time last Thursday after citizens called the police when it appeared she was driving drunk with her two daughter, ages 8 and 11, in her vehicle. Court records show Heisler has 155 arrests for prostitution alone. Her arrest history fills up more than 130 printed pages. (Link)
9. Police recover three women forced into prostitution in Maryland: Gabriel Dreke-Hernandez, aka “Echo,” 23, of Hyattsville, Maryland has been arrested and charged with first and second degree assault, kidnapping, various sex trafficking offenses and false imprisonment. The arrest happened after police received a tip that three women, ages 16 to 23, were being forcefully prostituted from the Garden Inn Hotel in Laurel. One victim, 19, told police she had been kidnapped from a party she was attending in April. Police say all three women were threatened with physical violence if they did not prostitute themselves and then give the money to Hernandez. Police believe the 19-year-old victim reached out to a friend after hearing of a similar police recovery of a 12-year-old in Laurel on Monday.
10. Cops seize over $600K from prostitute: Kim Wroblewski, 54, of Connecticut is accused of being in the business of prostitution, and according to police records she was pretty good at it too. Police bgan their investigation after receiving tips from neighbors that there was an endless parade of male visitors coming and going from Wroblewski’s residence, none staying more than an hour. When police searched Wroblewski’s two apartments they discovered meticulous records recounting her 15-years of prostitution, $31,000 in cash and  seized bank accounts holding more than $650,000. Wroblewski apparently told neighbors she worked nights as a nurse. In reality police claim she ran a prostitution business daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wroblewski has been charged with prostitution, second-degree promoting prostitution, possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school.

Candy Lee Hubbard, 33, was originally charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children, promoting prostitution and corruption on minors.

Hubbard’s sentence includes 20 months work release at the Franklin County Jail, eight months of intensive probation, $250 fine, sexual offender counseling and she must register as a sex offender.

Hubbard’s victims, ages 15 and 17, had run away from the Mountain Valley Center, a group home for troubled girls.

According to court papers, Hubbard offered the teens a place to stay but said they’d have to pay her back with money earned from prostitution. The girls stayed with Hubbard for three days and during that time were coerced into having oral and vaginal sex with 15 to 17 men who paid $30 to $60 each. Hubbard allegedly took the proceeds from the prostitution and gave the girls a bedroom, food, alcohol, drugs and condoms.

After three days one of the girls left Hubbard’s home and refused to return. Police were called when a 16-year old boy apparently confronted the girl with a knife and told her she had to return to Hubbard’s residence.

Arrested in relation to this case was an adult male and the knife welding 16-year old. Both of whom were residing in Hubbard’s home and participated in the prostitution of the teens.

According to police, the Vice Unit was conducting an undercover sting in a Southwest Houston motel. The shooting occurred when a police officer was completing paperwork in a hotel room with a woman who had just been arrested for prostitution. Moments later a man believed to be the woman’s pimp began banging on the motel room door. The man then forced the door open and began firing at at least one officer inside.

The officer inside the room and another officer in an adjoining room returned fire, hitting the yet to be identified suspect.

The man fled the hotel room and collapsed at the bottom of a stairwell. The man was taken to a local hospital with non life threatening wounds. No police officers were injured in the shootout.

According to police Christopher Wayne Foster, 27, of Rogers, was arrested by Bentonville police Wednesday and charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault and promoting prostitution.

The investigation began about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when a 23-year old woman called police and told them she was forced to jump from Foster’s vehicle after he tried to kidnap her and drive away. The woman sustained some injuries from the escape.

The victim told police she had worked for Foster as a personal assistant and that she met with him so he could pay wages he owed her. The victim told police she had quit working for Foster when she learned he was operating a prostitution ring.

Foster was arrested later that night along with two women, ages 19 and 20 that were with him. It was later determined the women were being pimped out by foster as prostitutes.

One of the women said she met Foster after replying to an online classified ad looking for a personal assistant.

The middle school where Foster volunteered as a coach has been contacted by authorities. No word if the school or police think Foster may have tried to recruit or sexually assault any of the students.

Foster is currently being held in the Benton County Jail.

Teresa West, 46, (click on photo upper left) was identified as the ring leader and organizer for a prostitution and human sex trafficking business that operated out of Nashville and Pigeon Forge.

West and her husband, son and daughter were all arrested last summer after a concerned citizen tipped off local law enforcement that someone was recruiting and pimping out Robertson County High school students.

West faced nine federal charges including sex trafficking of children and conspiring to interfere with a police investigation.

According to court papers, during the police investigation, West was observed renting a room at a Motel 6 in Murfreesboro. West then left the room key on a wall in the parking lot before leaving the area. A short time later a 16-year old female drove to the motel, retrieved the key and entered the room previously rented by West. Agents confronted the teen who admitted she had been recruited by West and had been prostituted to 20-30 ‘Johns.’ The teen was told to charge $110 for each sex act.

West pled guilty to a single count of recruiting a 16-year old girl into prostitution and to interfering with the investigation when she placed calls from jail to family members in an effort to fabricate an alibi.

Prosecutors say these charges typically carry a minimum sentence of 10-years in federal prison.

West’s husband, Kenneth Dagley, her son Casey, 20, and daughter Diana, 23, have yet to go to trial.

According to prosecutors, both Casey and Diana assisted in the prostitution and trafficking ring by driving girls to meet ‘Johns’ and assisting in the criminal operation.

Court papers indicate that Diana was also pimped out by her mother.

Parents of teenagers, particularly in the Robertson County area, who are/were friends with Casey, Diana and/or Teresa West, are urged to talk with their children and inquire whether they have any knowledge regarding the prostitution business.  Anyone with additional information is asked to contact SID Detective Chad Holman at 782-3301.  Underage persons involved in this matter are considered to be victims.

Councilwoman Jennifer Ramos’ proposal designates areas of focus, called “prostitution free corridors.”

So far, the streets that would be targeted haven’t been nailed down, but Ramos says Roosevelt and Presa are likely candidates.

“There’s a lot of focus right now on Roosevelt and Presa for the San Antonio River Authority project coming right through there. Bexar County is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on this project and it would be a shame if we continue, if we don’t do our part as citizens and the city to help improve the neighborhood,” said Ramos.

The police chief will make a recommendation on what happens next. The measure could go before city council by July.