More Desert Divas Arrests Made
Man Police Call 'Key Player' Latest To Be Nabbed
POSTED: 1:25 pm MST August 7,
2008
UPDATED: 3:42 pm MST August 7,
2008
PHOENIX -- Six more arrests have been made in what authorities say is the biggest prostitution bust ever in the Valley.
The latest suspects include Sean Carter, 39, one of the key players in the ring, said Phoenix Police Sgt. Andy Hill. Charges against Carter included conspiracy to control an illegal enterprise, illegal control of an enterprise, first-degree money laundering, operating a house of prostitution, pandering and receiving the earnings of a prostitute.Also arrested were five women accused of working as escorts in the prostitution ring. They were identified as Tiffany Nelson, 20; Tanya Powers, 27; Ivie Johnson, 22; Delain Hunt, 21; and Michelle Lea Evans, 23.The arrests brought to 29 the number of people arrested since police swept down on several locations Monday in an operation that targeted an organization run by Paul Nichta, called "Nighttime Entertainment Partners." Police said the organization provided prostitutes through numerous websites.It allegedly employed more than 100 people, mostly prostitutes, and served hundreds of customers or "johns." The investigation has connections to Philadelphia and Albuquerque, N.M., police said.Hill said Thursday that more arrests were expected, adding that it probably will be several weeks before suspects can be processed through the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, which will bring formal charges.The escorts were allegedly recruited through ads in the ‘New Times' and Web sites promising incomes of up to $30,000 dollars per month. Two former escorts told police they made approximately $2,000 per night, but could also earn an additional $15,000 dollars a night in tips.On Monday, Valley police and deputies served nine search warrants and arrested some of the top members of the organization, authorities said."Because of the amount of money that was involved, we have seized several high-end cars, Lamborghinis, Mercedes, we have about 4 or 5 more cars to go through. We've got bank accounts that have been frozen, houses that have been seized," said Phoenix Police lieutenant Bill Schemers.The 23 people arrested were Nichta; Levatter; Scott Eder, 35; Peter Shifman, 56; Billi Mayfield, 19; Adam Beech, 25; Charles Sanders, 29; Louis Sterling, 55; William Ferretti, 65; Chloe Magouliotis, 23; Luna Kursta, 24; Allison Brown, 20; Leslie Burton 28; Amy Pickens, 37; Sandra Molini, 27; Sara Scott, 21; Tiffany Haltom, 24; Kari Fager, 21; Brie George, 31; Sara Broadhead, 31; Amber Butler 23; Michelle Sakuei, 28; and Heidi Schreider-Rendon, 29.Another 50 people were indicted."It's a very extensive case," said Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris. "It's going to be going on and will probably be in the news for quite some time, but we want to thank everyone that has been a part of that partnership and putting this together."According to authorities, Nichta's criminal enterprise dropped a quarter of a million dollars in the bank per month. His charges include money laundering and pandering.Officers also confiscated six rifles, 12 handguns and two silencers at Nichta's Paradise Valley residence, police said.Some women have also been arrested on prostitution charges, investigators said, and they expect arrests to continue in the weeks ahead."We're going to go through those ledgers, we'll go through the computer information that they have, they'll make a determination whether things are substantiated or not and that's gonna take some time," said Phoenix Police Department spokesman Andy Hill.
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