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Desert Divas List Has Escorts' Notes

'Johns' Won't Face Criminal Charges, Police Say

POSTED: 11:58 am MST July 29, 2009
UPDATED: 10:40 am MST July 30, 2009

Phoenix police released a list with the names of thousands of men who allegedly hired escorts as part of the Desert Divas prostitution ring.

Investigators already released one list of names that was found during an initial search.

Wednesday's list was taken from computers that were seized during another search.

Some names on that list belong to high-profile people with high-paying jobs, such as bank presidents and doctors. Notes next to one name claim the client is an owner of the San Francisco Giants baseball team.

Other clients were from out of state, with at least one from a different country.

Nevertheless, because many of them may have used phony names, none of them will face criminal charges.

It reads like a giant black book, with each entry listing the name of the "john," a price and the girl he allegedly had sex with.

There's also a listing of where the alleged sex acts took place, specifically popular Valley hotels like the Sheraton, Hyatt and Fairmont Princess.

The list, which was formatted as a database, referenced a client's status (first time, repeat customer, VIP or do not service) and where he or she found out about the service.

There are even notes from the alleged escorts themselves about each client:
  • "Aggressive but a nice guy"
  • "Bad, rough client"
  • "Do not see ever. Extreme case of herpes."
  • "Calls two agencies at once and which girl gets there quicker...he takes."
One entry mentioned the client's wife came home early.

The notes reveal that at one point, the organization may have had a problem with identity theft. At least two entries contained notes about an operator stealing a client's credit card number; each of those clients was to be given "anything he wants."

Yet despite all the names, addresses and information, none of these "johns" will be arrested or face any criminal action, according to police.

Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Hill said the Desert Divas investigation has led to the arrest of more than 100 people, specifically those who ran the operation for years.

The "johns," however, are harder to track down since many used fake names like Michael Jackson.

"What we have is a list of names, but they have to identify those people positively and many people could have the same name," Hill said. "A lot are first names. A lot are nicknames."

Hill said another problem in trying to arrest these johns is that the statute of limitations on this case is about to run out.

Solicitation of prostitution is a misdemeanor so prosecutors only have a year to file charges. That year is up next month.

Last August, Phoenix police shut down the alleged high-dollar call-girl operation after a five-month investigation. Out of more than 50 arrests, officers detained about a dozen men and women they said were key players in the business.

Since then, police investigators and the County Attorney's Office have indicted and arrested almost 100 suspects who are members of the organization, said Sgt. Andy Hill of the Phoenix Police Department.

All of the leaders of the organization have pleaded guilty to charges.

Among the evidence investigators confiscated were the lists of clients. Authorities also seized three residences, eight vehicles -- including a Ferrari 43C CP -- and one motorcycle.

They also found six rifles, 12 handguns and two silencers at one of the alleged ringleaders' residence, police said.

It is believed to be the largest prostitution bust in Arizona history.

Police documents have revealed that the "johns" generally paid 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.

Reporter Jason Barry contributed to this story.

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