Officers Raid Clubs Accused Of Selling Sex [Archive]

glad_ken

11-17-2004, 11:01 AM

These "modeling studio/spas" are all over Houston, and EVERYONE knows what is going on inside of these places. I don't see why the cops don't raid more often....

http://www.click2houston.com/news/3925379/detail.html

Vice Squad Officers Raid Clubs Accused Of Selling Sex
Police Shut Down 13 Clubs, Arrest At Least 24 Employees

HOUSTON -- Investigators will hold a news conference Wednesday to release the names of people involved in more than a dozen Houston-area clubs that they say were selling sex.

Neighboring Business Owner Happy About Club Crackdown

Houston Police Department vice squad officers shut down 13 clubs Tuesday night after they raided the facilities.

At least two dozen employees were arrested during the citywide raid. Police also hauled away a van full of customer receipts.

The owner of business adjacent to the Escape 5 Stress Management Club on Westheimer at Wilicrest said he was relieved to see the business shut down.

"Definitely all the way across, you have to clean up all these shopping malls and strip centers for all the legitimate businesses," William Cunningham told Local 2.

The people arrested during the raid will likely be charged with prostitution, according to officials.

dwil8686

11-17-2004, 11:03 AM

damn :(

coma

11-17-2004, 11:05 AM

Is it sweeps week already?

Btw, glad_ken, I see I'm not the only fan of The Wire here. I love that show.

glad_ken

11-17-2004, 11:18 AM

Originally posted by coma
Is it sweeps week already?

Btw, glad_ken, I see I'm not the only fan of The Wire here. I love that show.

The Wire is the best show on TV. The writers come up with incredible storylines. I mean come on, Hamsterdam!

- "I got that WMD!"

SwoLy-D

11-17-2004, 11:20 AM

I'm glad I got out of there in time... ;)

[I'm on a ROLL today...!]

AroundTheWorld

11-17-2004, 11:21 AM

Hope this doesn't drag the thread to the D&D, but why were the people arrested? What crime exactly have they supposedly committed? :confused:

codell

11-17-2004, 11:25 AM

JuanValdez

11-17-2004, 11:42 AM

Originally posted by Sir Jackie Chiles
Hope this doesn't drag the thread to the D&D, but why were the people arrested? What crime exactly have they supposedly committed? :confused:
:confused: How can you be confused? Especially when it says in the original article:

The people arrested during the raid will likely be charged with prostitution, according to officials.

coma

11-17-2004, 11:47 AM

Originally posted by glad_ken
The Wire is the best show on TV. The writers come up with incredible storylines. I mean come on, Hamsterdam!

- "I got that WMD!"

How awesome was the last scene from last week?

Oski2005

11-17-2004, 11:48 AM

Damn, what ads am I going to read in the next Houston Press?

AroundTheWorld

11-17-2004, 11:59 AM

Originally posted by JuanValdez
:confused: How can you be confused? Especially when it says in the original article:

Is that a crime or a misdemeanor in Houston? Is it prohibited due to state laws or a city ordinance...or how? I am confused because it is more or less legal in most of Europe, so I am just trying to understand the extent to which it is considered a "crime" in Houston... Who gets arrested, only the "working girl" or also the "client" or anyone who in any way aids and abets...just wondering.

SamCassell

11-17-2004, 12:12 PM

Originally posted by Sir Jackie Chiles
Is that a crime or a misdemeanor in Houston? Is it prohibited due to state laws or a city ordinance...or how? I am confused because it is more or less legal in most of Europe, so I am just trying to understand the extent to which it is considered a "crime" in Houston... Who gets arrested, only the "working girl" or also the "client" or anyone who in any way aids and abets...just wondering.

Section 43.02 of the Texas penal code. Class B misdemeanor, upgradeable to class A or even state jail felony based on priors. Both the prostitute and the john are subject to the statute. 43.03 and 43.04 apply to those who promote prostitution (i.e. pimps, etc.). Check here (http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/statutes.html) for more info.

The cops I know conduct undercover ops to bust both the prostitutes and the johns.

The Real Shady

11-17-2004, 12:18 PM

As long as they stay away from Treasures....

AroundTheWorld

11-17-2004, 12:25 PM

Thanks SamCassell. Is it the consensus that that is the best use of the cops' time (as opposed to fighting, e.g., violent crime)? In other words, are there any voices which advocate de-criminalizing prostitution in Texas?

Rocketman95

11-17-2004, 12:26 PM

Samar

11-17-2004, 12:33 PM

glad_ken

11-17-2004, 12:38 PM

Originally posted by The Real Shady
As long as they stay away from Treasures....

You got any stories about experiences at Treasures? A friend of mine was leaving Treasures one night and this really hot girl walks up to him and asked him if he wanted to have some "fun." He goes off with her to some shady adult movie theater on Richmond and she blows him for $60.

Isabel

11-17-2004, 12:39 PM

"Stress management club"? :rolleyes: That's a new one.

I don't particularly want to decriminalize prostitution. It's different from just allowing people to express themselves/ not being uptight. I feel that it's inherently disgusting to make it a business transaction. Is nothing sacred...

If you want more "practical" reasons, there's the usual list: spread of STDs, potential for abuse of women, etc. I'm sure there will always be someone, somewhere, who decides to trade money for these services, but they can work out the arrangement on their own time. If you have legal houses of ill repute, I wonder how you explain to your kids what they are.

SamCassell

11-17-2004, 12:41 PM

Yes, the answer it seems is simply to hire more cops, build more jail cells. One in five people in Texas prisons is there for a drug offense. Vice crimes are a big portion of the Texas judicial / penal system, and we take them as seriously as violent crimes.

moestavern19

11-17-2004, 12:42 PM

"Mike please... Relaxation Therapist"

JuanValdez

11-17-2004, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by Sir Jackie Chiles
Thanks SamCassell. Is it the consensus that that is the best use of the cops' time (as opposed to fighting, e.g., violent crime)? In other words, are there any voices which advocate de-criminalizing prostitution in Texas?

As always, and especially on this board, there will be people advocating the decriminalization of prostitution in Texas. There are places in the country where it is legal (Nevada, but not in the big cities), though it is the exception. I would say Texas tends to look the other way much of the time (except perhaps with streetwalkers), but I doubt there is much of any significant support for getting rid of the laws.

As for where cops spend their time, all our laws should be enforced, not just the ones against violent crime. Besides the inherent issue of Justice in that, I think the prosecution of crimes like prostitution falls well into the Broken Windows theory of crime prevention (the idea that minor infractions committed with impunity encourages more serious crime thorugh its lack of deterrence and its contributions to a perception of a lawless, neglected, broken environment). Add that to the fact that many people mixed up in prostitution are also mixed up in other illegal activities like drug use, drug trade, exploitation (sexual and otherwise), molestation, abuse, money laundering and so on, and I really don't have any problems with our police resources going to cracking down on these things.

BrianKagy

11-17-2004, 12:58 PM

THAT'S IT I'M MOVING TO KHAZAKISTAN

RocketMan Tex

11-17-2004, 01:06 PM

Originally posted by BrianKagy
THAT'S IT I'M MOVING TO KHAZAKISTAN

Cuz de ladies is so fiiiiiine dere!

"Shake it, Natasha! Shake it like you're on the tractor assembly line!"

BrianKagy

11-17-2004, 01:09 PM

Cuz de ladies is so fiiiiiine dere!

OUTSTANDING

"I can carry a woman against her will for one mile"

AroundTheWorld

11-17-2004, 01:30 PM

Originally posted by RocketMan Tex
Cuz de ladies is so fiiiiiine dere!

http://www.liveindia.com/missworld/Kazakhstan.jpg

Saule ZHUNUSOVA
Kazakhstan
Saule was born in northern Kazakhstan into a big family. She is a student at ‘Kazakh Specialized School, her favourite subjects are Russian Literature, history and chemistry, her future ambition is to be a Lawyer. Saule enjoys cooking, dancing, folk music and working out. She is very much looking forward to meeting all the other national winners and going to China.
Languages: Kazakh, Russian and English

I've seen better...but I've also seen worse...

AroundTheWorld

11-17-2004, 01:35 PM

Originally posted by Sir Jackie Chiles
http://www.liveindia.com/missworld/Kazakhstan.jpg

http://mitglied.lycos.de/rockets2000/1647839_ashcroft.jpg

Rocketman95

11-17-2004, 01:41 PM

And if her breastessess were covered. :D

Oski2005

11-17-2004, 01:54 PM

http://tinypic.com/m7gjk

In America, women can vote, but horse cannot? It
is the other way around in my country.

VooDooPope

11-17-2004, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by Oski2005
http://tinypic.com/m7gjk

Is that Jerry Seinfield with a moustach?

AroundTheWorld

11-17-2004, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by VooDooPope
Is that Jerry Seinfield with a moustach?

No, that's Ali G with a moustache.

http://www.boratonline.co.uk/

thegary

11-17-2004, 02:05 PM

Originally posted by Isabel
I don't particularly want to decriminalize prostitution.

it's all a matter of perspective i suppose
http://www.rnw.nl/society/html/pic011220.html

ima_drummer2k

11-17-2004, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by VooDooPope
Is that Jerry Seinfield with a moustach?
Come on! It's Freddie Mercury!

SwoLy-D

11-17-2004, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by ima_drummer2k
Come on! It's Freddie Mercury! Alex Trebek... I don't remember how this joke ends but his mother is a whore...

NJRocket

11-19-2004, 10:25 AM

Originally posted by Rocketman95
This is the same country that freaked out at the sight of a boob more than pictures of our troops torturing prisoners in Iraq. You make the call.

both extremely pleasurable sights imo

edc

11-19-2004, 10:56 AM

Originally posted by Sir Jackie Chiles
Hope this doesn't drag the thread to the D&D, but why were the people arrested? What crime exactly have they supposedly committed? :confused:

==
Houston Chronicle, 11/18

Many of the female workers arrested were not charged with prostitution in exchange for giving statements about the nature of the organizations, Jett said.

Owners and operators charged with one count each of engaging in organized criminal activities.

Jett said investigators seized business records, more than $57,000 in cash and three vehicles used for business. Two bank accounts believed to contain more than $150,000 also have been frozen, he said.
==

Sounds like they used RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) laws on the owners.

BrianKagy

11-19-2004, 11:22 AM

both extremely pleasurable sights imo

I got a chubby from both.

Smokey

11-19-2004, 11:34 AM

I can't believe Texas had a legit brothel (like in Europe) in La Grange until Marvin f'ing Zindler shut it down in the 80's. I heard the Sheriff pimp slapped Marvin too.

Gutter Snipe

11-19-2004, 11:45 AM

I know decriminalization is a lost cause in Texas, but most of the people against it either refuse to face the facts or are hypocritical. The sex trade will not go away because of laws or task forces. Why not spend money to help those in the trade, instead of persecuting them?

All of the points that Isabel brought up could be improved by legalization and regulation. For example, if you want to be a sex worker, you need to get a biweekly doctor's exam.

The women involved would probably make more money per client, and some of the shadiness would go away because the business itself is above board.

The only valid argument against prostitution is the moral one. But is it right to legislate morality? I would argue that the government's primary role should be to protect and minimize harm to it's citizens.

In this case, the government took both a workplace and a job away from these women. I'm sure that they are happy to be out of those dens of iniquity and back on welfare or washing dishes or on the streets.

JuanValdez

11-19-2004, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by edc
==
Houston Chronicle, 11/18

Many of the female workers arrested were not charged with prostitution in exchange for giving statements about the nature of the organizations, Jett said.

Owners and operators charged with one count each of engaging in organized criminal activities.

Jett said investigators seized business records, more than $57,000 in cash and three vehicles used for business. Two bank accounts believed to contain more than $150,000 also have been frozen, he said.
==

Sounds like they used RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) laws on the owners.

Great call. Taking down the pimps.

Oski2005

11-19-2004, 02:26 PM

I remember once finding a message board for people who frequent these places. I wish I could remember where it was just to read how many of them might be crapping their pants for paying with a credit card.

edc

11-19-2004, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by Oski2005
I remember once finding a message board for people who frequent these places. I wish I could remember where it was just to read how many of them might be crapping their pants for paying with a credit card.

google is your friend. "stress relief houston review"

(no, I'm not posting the link)

pops right up (pun intended). I wonder if that place on Richmond that advertised on Sportsradio 610 got busted.

edc

11-19-2004, 02:40 PM

Let's see:

This kills "sex" in Houston,
KLOL being gone kills "rock and roll" in Houston,
anyone expecting a major drug bust next week? ;)

Ender120

11-19-2004, 02:42 PM

Originally posted by Gutter Snipe
The only valid argument against prostitution is the moral one.

I agree with all of this except for the validity of the morality argument. To say that prostitution has always been considered wrong is false, I feel. In some cultures it has been acceptable and even sanctioned by the religious figures in charge.

Some of the first prostitutes were "priestesses" in temples of worship. You gave your donation, and were taken to a back room to be led in "worship".

Who says religion can't be fun?

Oski2005

11-19-2004, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by edc
google is your friend. "stress relief houston review"

(no, I'm not posting the link)

pops right up (pun intended). I wonder if that place on Richmond that advertised on Sportsradio 610 got busted.

Hey, I google, I just couldn't find it.

persian hoopa

11-19-2004, 02:44 PM

I don't recognize Houston anymore. I love that I was able to get serviced by good looking girls at a decent price. This sucks. **** BIBLE BEATERS!!!

edc

11-19-2004, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by Oski2005
Hey, I google, I just couldn't find it.

Using the keywords above, it is second on my list, just under

"Compare Prices and Read Reviews on Unreal Tournament for Windows ..."

and just above

"Houston Stop Smoking"

Maybe you need to turn "safe search" off?

rrj_gamz

11-19-2004, 03:02 PM

You know, that kinda sux, ;) , but in Dallas, there are tons of them over here...There also a lot more visable too...All over Loop 12/35e...

As long as they don't crack down on Treasure's, we're good...

Oski2005

11-19-2004, 03:25 PM

Originally posted by edc
Using the keywords above, it is second on my list, just under

"Compare Prices and Read Reviews on Unreal Tournament for Windows ..."

and just above

"Houston Stop Smoking"

Maybe you need to turn "safe search" off?

Well, I found once you gave me the key words, I meant when I searched before on my own, I had no luck.

amfootball

11-19-2004, 11:30 PM

Originally posted by coma
Is it sweeps week already?

Local TV news gets super crappy for at least three MONTHS a year. February, May and November. May is the big one -- it really can sink to an incredible low that month. At least this particular story had a few ounces of news value, but most of them don't. I just feel sorry for the people of Cleveland. They got to see a piece on Monday than included on of their anchors, Sharon Reed, getting naked for "art." They filmed the story four months ago and held it for sweeps. They got a 30 share (that's very, very, very high), but that station -- and especially that anchor -- are the laughing stock of their collegues now.

December isn't too far away...<i>slightly</i> better choices of news stories isn't too far away! It will be a long time before most local news shows are worth watching again...<i>if ever</i>.

Behad

11-20-2004, 12:40 AM

Originally posted by Smokey
I can't believe Texas had a legit brothel (like in Europe) in La Grange until Marvin f'ing Zindler shut it down in the 80's. I heard the Sheriff pimp slapped Marvin too.

The history of the Chicken Ranch (http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/ontv/history_chicken_ranch.html), as told from ABC 13's point of view.

rrj_gamz

11-20-2004, 11:04 AM

Originally posted by Isabel
[BIf you have legal houses of ill repute, I wonder how you explain to your kids what they are. [/B]

I hear you, but its even worse around the world, especially in SE Asia, like Thailand, the Philippines, etc...

I remember going to a place with my boss, who happened to be female and it was a club/brothel...not knowing this at the time, they had a "wall" of women behind glass who you could choose, like 20 - 30 women just sitting there...all very young...it was very said...:(

mateo

11-20-2004, 11:42 AM

That website is fascinating. My wife and I spent about 2 hours on it last night, better than a movie.

mateo

11-20-2004, 11:50 AM

Pat Pong in Bangkok or the Red Light Districts all over the world at least arent trying to cover it up with some sort of stress management bs.

Although when we were vacationing in Thailand this winter, my wife was extremely freaked out by the little Vietnamese gals and their menus approaching us in PatPong. "Sorry sweetie, no ping pong or cigarette or razor blade shows for us.....we're just cutting through Pat Pong while heading to the Red Cross Snake Farm to play with cobras"