Prostitution in Orange County Can Be a Federal Offense

Federal charges were filed in a prostitution scheme at three “spas”. Federal agents have arrested a California businessman and a woman on charges of conspiracy to transport prostitutes across state lines and money laundering after a two-year investigation into several county tanning salons.

18 U.S.C. 2422 states:
It is forbidden to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce any individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution or any criminal sexual activity. Furthermore, It is forbidden to knowingly attempt to do the same, or to use, or attempt to use the mail or any means of interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of persuading, inducing, enticing, or coercing any individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution or any criminal sexual activity.

State laws are generally broader and focus on persons who advance, promote, or induce prostitution.

Prosecutors allege the defendant owned tanning resorts in Washington, Seattle and California. Federal authorities alleged the tanning salons were cover, but really operated as brothels for prostitutes traveling between the West Coast and Texas. Once here, the prostitutes would work at the spas for several weeks and then move on.

Advertising was done on a variety of Web sites. Over the past two years, several undercover officers and informants have allegedly visited the spas and have been offered sex for money.

The “Mann Act” is a federal law that prohibits the transportation of individuals younger than the age of 18 in interstate or foreign commerce, or an attempt to do so, with the intent such individual engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense.

More recently the Protection of Children from Sexual Predators Act of 1998 clarified some of the language, added attempt provisions, and increased the penalties under the Mann Act.

If you have been arrested for federal violation of prostitution, pandering, solicitation, or pimping laws in Huntington Beach or anywhere in Orange County, you need the assistance of competent federal criminal defense attorneys working to ensure your rights are protected and that you receive your constitutional due process. The federal criminal defense lawyers at Houston & Blanco will fight to get your charges dismissed or dropped. We can assist with your federal prostitution, solicitation or pimping charges and handle any other federal criminal accusations against you. Call TODAY! Do NOT WAIT! Call the Orange County criminal defense attorneys of Houston & Blanco at 714.841.3921 or email at info@HBLawyers.net.