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Tatianna Tye and Jazmine Finley
Tatianna Tye and Jazmine Finley


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Police: Teen 'Glorified' Prostitution

POSTED: 12:00 pm MST February 24, 2009
UPDATED: 12:16 pm MST February 24, 2009

One of the two teens accused of convincing other girls to work as prostitutes "glorified the business of prostitution," according to court records.

Officers arrested Tatianna Atay Tye, 16, and Jazmine Ollie Finley, 16, on Feb. 18 on several charges relating to child prostitution after a five-month investigation, police said.

According to paperwork from her initial appearance in court, Tye recruited at least three victims, one of whom was 14 years old, to work for her as prostitutes.

At least one of the victims did not want to become a prostitute; however, police said Tye convinced her by telling her about easy money.

Tye also told one of the victims that working for her was better than working for a male pimp because Tye would not beat up the victim, according to court paperwork.

"We have two girls who are, in essence, pimps," said Phoenix Police Sgt. Andy Hill, "and they ran their own brothel."

Additionally, Tye told a victim's mother that the victim was her prostitute and threatened the mother over the phone, police said. Other men believed to be associated with Tye also called the victim's home and threatened her father.

Police believe Tye and Finley recruited the girls through schools, though nobody actually "turned tricks" on campus.

Tye, who was charged with three counts of pandering and one count of child prostitution, will be on supervised release with an electronic monitoring bracelet and $50,000 cash bond, according to court paperwork. She is not allowed to have contact with anyone younger than 18 years old.

Finley was charged with nine counts of child prostitution, two counts of receiving earnings from a prostitute and two counts of pandering, according to court records.

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