Felony Promoting Prostitution – NOT GUILTY AFTER TRIAL

Both clients had an apartment that they advertised “massages” from in a local newspaper. They did not realize that a they were part of a sting called Mission “Stops Today.” It was to bust child prostitution rings. The agencies involved were the Chicago Police Department’s bureau of Organized Crime’s Human Trafficking Task Force and Vice Section, Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration Customs and Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Treasury. An undercover officer made an appointment for a “massage.” When he walked into the apartment, he was brought to a room where sex acts were discussed and the officer tendered official marked funds as payment. The women disrobed and the officer sent an arrest signal and numerous officers broke down door and arrested all people inside. Clients were charged with Class 3 felony Promoting Prostitution. The prosecutor refused to reduce the charges. Since my clients had immigration holds on them, I had to go to trial since the State of Illinois refused to reduce the charges. After a bench trial, both clients found NOT GUILTY of all charges!