43 More Suspects Named Jail Guard Arrested In Desert Divas Sting
POSTED: 3:07 pm MST May 7,
2009
UPDATED: 8:14 pm MST May 7,
2009
PHOENIX -- A 23-year-old Maricopa County Sheriff's Office detention officer has been arrested by Phoenix police and charged with prostitution in connection with a second wave of arrests in the Desert Divas case, said Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Jillian Lybarger was placed on administrative leave shortly after Wednesday's arrest, Arpaio said.She was booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail and was released on her own recognizance.Lybarger has been employed with MCSO for just over one year, Arpaio said.The Desert Divas operation was the largest prostitution bust in Arizona history, investigators said. Not only did detectives make dozens of arrests, they also seized cash, drugs and weapons.The ring came to an end in August 2008, when investigators busted several Valley locations.Police documents have revealed that the johns generally paid as much as a $375 all-inclusive rate. And if the escorts showed up late, they had to pay a fine.According to investigators, the criminal enterprise was making bank deposits totaling $250,000 a month.Last month, seven key operators and two VIP customers pleaded guilty in connection with the case.Here is a list and profile of those that pleaded guilty:Paul Nichta, 33, owner and ring leader
Pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering and use of a wire or electronic communication, Thomas said. Nichta admitted to owning, operating and receiving money from Night Partner's Entertainment, which included the Desert Divas business, Thomas said. He also acknowledged the operation as a prostitution enterprise. Nichta faces 2.5 years in prison following his sentencing, scheduled for June 25.Peter Shifman, 57, accountant
Pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering and use of a wire or electronic communication, Thomas said. Shifman admitted to being the accountant for Night Partner's Entertainment and knowing it was a prostitution business, Thomas said. He also admitted to receiving money from the prostitution proceeds. Shifman faces 2.5 years in prison following his June 18 sentencing.Scott Eder, 36, manager
Pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering and illegal use of wire or electronic communications. He faces 2.5 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 28. Eder was the manager of the Arizona Confidential business which operated under the larger umbrella company of Night Partner's Entertainment, Thomas said. He admits to being an integral part in managing women engaged in prostitution and that he received money from this business, Thomas said.Shelia Bucalo, 42, manager
Pleaded guilty to money laundering and operating or maintaining a house of prostitution. She faces 1.5 years in prison when she is sentenced on May 14. Bucalo admits to working as a phone operator setting up prostitution dates for Night Partner's Entertainment as well as completing some managerial tasks for the prostitution enterprise, Thomas said.
Sean Carter, 40, manager
Pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering and use of a wire or electronic vommunication. No sentencing date has been set. Carter admits to being a manager for Night partner's Entertainment, assisting with hiring, scheduling and personnel issues for the women employed as prostitutes, Thomas said. Adam Beech, 25, part owner and photographer
Pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering and use of a wire or electronic communication. He faces 1.5 years in prison when he is sentenced July 1. Beech admits to being part owner of Night Partner's Entertainment in 2006 and being part of the management team, Thomas said. Later, he continued working for the prostitution enterprise taking nude photos and pornographic videos used to advertise the prostitution enterprise on the web, Thomas said.Dr. Ross Levatter, 53, investor and VIP customer
Pleaded guilty to attempted money laundering. He faces probation when he is sentenced on May 14. Levatter admits to attempting to possess money that was the proceeds of pandering, Thomas said. Louis Stirling, 55, and William Ferretti, 65, VIP customers
Pleaded guilty to attempted pandering. Both face sentencing next month.
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Pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering and use of a wire or electronic communication, Thomas said. Nichta admitted to owning, operating and receiving money from Night Partner's Entertainment, which included the Desert Divas business, Thomas said. He also acknowledged the operation as a prostitution enterprise. Nichta faces 2.5 years in prison following his sentencing, scheduled for June 25.Peter Shifman, 57, accountant
Pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering and use of a wire or electronic communication, Thomas said. Shifman admitted to being the accountant for Night Partner's Entertainment and knowing it was a prostitution business, Thomas said. He also admitted to receiving money from the prostitution proceeds. Shifman faces 2.5 years in prison following his June 18 sentencing.Scott Eder, 36, manager
Pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering and illegal use of wire or electronic communications. He faces 2.5 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 28. Eder was the manager of the Arizona Confidential business which operated under the larger umbrella company of Night Partner's Entertainment, Thomas said. He admits to being an integral part in managing women engaged in prostitution and that he received money from this business, Thomas said.Shelia Bucalo, 42, manager
Pleaded guilty to money laundering and operating or maintaining a house of prostitution. She faces 1.5 years in prison when she is sentenced on May 14. Bucalo admits to working as a phone operator setting up prostitution dates for Night Partner's Entertainment as well as completing some managerial tasks for the prostitution enterprise, Thomas said.
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Pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering and use of a wire or electronic vommunication. No sentencing date has been set. Carter admits to being a manager for Night partner's Entertainment, assisting with hiring, scheduling and personnel issues for the women employed as prostitutes, Thomas said. Adam Beech, 25, part owner and photographer
Pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering and use of a wire or electronic communication. He faces 1.5 years in prison when he is sentenced July 1. Beech admits to being part owner of Night Partner's Entertainment in 2006 and being part of the management team, Thomas said. Later, he continued working for the prostitution enterprise taking nude photos and pornographic videos used to advertise the prostitution enterprise on the web, Thomas said.Dr. Ross Levatter, 53, investor and VIP customer
Pleaded guilty to attempted money laundering. He faces probation when he is sentenced on May 14. Levatter admits to attempting to possess money that was the proceeds of pandering, Thomas said. Louis Stirling, 55, and William Ferretti, 65, VIP customers
Pleaded guilty to attempted pandering. Both face sentencing next month.
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