Feds Kill Yet Another Website That Makes Sex Work Safer

Five federal agencies and several California police departments worked for over a year to take down a site where sex workers advertised.

divinenephron/Flickr

In the alleged interest of stopping sexual exploitation, government officials have seized yet another website that allowed sex workers to work more safely and independently. This move to make life worse for many marginalized women was funded with federal money earmarked for fighting human trafficking and carried out by a task force involving the FBI, the IRS, the San Diego Police Department, several nearby police departments, the U.S. Marshals Service, the California Highway Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of Homeland Security. Because nevermind terror and human smuggling and mass shootings, there are adults having sex in unapproved ways!

The investigation into the website and two San Diego-area escort agencies has been ongoing for a year. 

San Diego Police Captain Brian Ahearn said the task force's highest priority is rescuing sex-trafficking victims. 

No victims were uncovered in this operation. 

"The case wrapped up with the arrests of Dale Vinzant, 68, of Mission Beach, operator of San Diego Adult Service Provider, and Christian Koalani, 66, of Pacific Beach, who ran American Escort Co.," the Los Angeles Times reports, in a piece headlined "2 San Diego men arrested in Internet sex trafficking case." Other outlets covering the story also refer to a "sex trafficking" ring or website being taken down.

But police present no evidence that any women who paid to advertise on the site, nor any escorts working for Vinzant or Koalani, were unwilling or underage. And, in fact, neither Vinzant or Koalani was even arrested on sex trafficking or human trafficking charges. Rather, Vinaznt faces charges of money laundering, soliciting for prostitution, pandering, and pimping, and Koalani faces pimping, pandering, and conspiracy charges. Both men plead not guilty and are being held on bail.

Ahearn told reporters at a Tuesday press conference that Vinzant and Koalani "lured" women into prostitution with money. 

Comments

[Citizen X]

Pimping ain't easy, but it's necessary.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

I came here to say this.

[Citizen X]

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[AmeliePearson]

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[Crusty Juggler]

My guess: the author of the piece is Kathryn Jean Lopez.

[UnCivilServant]

Was not going to be my guess.

[Crusty Juggler]

That's why I am better than you.

[UnCivilServant]

You can keep thinking that.

Won't ever make you right.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Shows what you know. This all-sex-all-campus-all-the-time is clearly the new direction KMW is pushing us in.

[Citizen X]

That's barely even a euphemism!

[Groovus Maximus]

I thought it was truth in advertising.

[Crusty Juggler]

Ahearn told reporters at a Tuesday press conference that Vinzant and Koalani "lured" women into prostitution with money.

I think we can all agree that women should make choices for themselves.

[paranoid android]

I got lured into being a thankless data analyst with money, who do I get to have arrested for that?

[UnCivilServant]

No one, they haven't criminalized paying for that work.

[Crusty Juggler]

Are you a woman? I suspect you are not, therefore you are allowed to make your own choices in life. You just made a bad choice, and trust me I know all about that. Supermarket sushi? What the hell was I thinking?

[UnCivilServant]

Supermarket sushi? What the hell was I thinking?

My guess, you were thinking "Would".

[lap83]

+1 fishy smell

[Aloysious]

"What the hell was I thinking?"

I like turtles.

[R C Dean]

"What the hell are these tentacles doing in my taco salad?"

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

What's funny about this is I was "lured" into my job with money.

[Crusty Juggler]

Again, you're a man so that is okay. They are woman. They have smaller brains and fewer muscles and they are not allowed to make their own choices in life.

[Krapulent Kristen]

I was lured into web admin & development with money! I had no idea I was being trafficked!

Now I need some burly, jacked-up Dunphy to come rescue me!

[Lee G]

booyah

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

*raises hand*

[Scarecrow & WoodChipper Repair]

Are meter maids lured into trafficking with money or the lust for power?

[Agammamon]

The lust for power.

They turn to the money later - all those nickels are a temptation no one can resist for long.

[mad.casual]

Other outlets covering the story also refer to a "sex trafficking" ring...

What's the minimum number of participants required for a 'ring'? Is it possible that there's an epidemic of one-person sex trafficking rings being perpetrated across the US at any given moment?

[Scarecrow & WoodChipper Repair]

I can think of a two-Koch ring they would like to take down with asset forfeiture. Or is that two single-Koch rings?

[Uncle Jay]

RE: Feds Kill Yet Another Website That Makes Sex Work Safer
Five federal agencies and several California police departments worked for over a year to take down a site where sex workers advertised.

Millions of local tax dollars spent on making sure two consenting adults are having fun behind closed doors.
Tax money well spent.
I can hardly wait for the next project these government officials are going to spend our money on.

[Lee G]

I was lured into some investments by the prospect of money and got fucked. What do I get?

[UnCivilServant]

You get to be poorer.

If you're lucky you can eke out wiser as well.

[Steve G]

A bailout

[R C Dean]

San Diego Police Captain Brian Ahearn said the task force's highest priority is rescuing sex-trafficking victims.

No victims were uncovered in this operation.

Out in the real world, an operation that fails to achieve its highest priority is referred to as a "failed operation".

[Crusty Juggler]

Hey, they arrested a couple of hardcore geriatrics.

[John]

I never could figure out why the Republicans passed the Corker Amendment and allowed Obama to ignore the constitution on the Iran deal. Now I know why

http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/1.....iran-deal/

Iran is buying planes from Boeing. Boeing is a huge donor to Republicans. What is a little treason between friends?

[Steve G]

Speaking of whores... and Johns for that matter

[Agammamon]

Since when is selling goods treason?

[Juvenile Bluster]

Ahearn told reporters at a Tuesday press conference that Vinzant and Koalani "lured" women into prostitution with money.

TIL that every job anyone has anywhere is "trafficking".

[John]

And the women in turn lured their customers into becoming johns with sex.

Everyone is a victim here I guess.

[Lee G]

Well, it is the age of cultural Marxism.

[Mokers]

I haven't been checking in every day, but I'm surprised reason hasn't picked up some of the coverage of the Oakland PD sex scandal, wherein multiple cops were alleged to have sex with an underage escort, sometimes while on duty. All of this while still under federal oversight because of how terrible they were. One officer committed suicide, police chief resigned, people starting to ask how much the mayor knew, etc.

Badge of Dishonor

[Playa Manhattan.]

The California Highway Patrol?

What exactly does the Vehicle Code say about prostitution?

[Rasilio]

Better get Paunch and John on the case

[Free Society]

OT:
Michelle Obama urges men at women's summit to 'be better'Possible paywall on the first link. The following excerpt is from the Washington Post coverage of the same event.

Winfrey: "I never, in all my years of interviewing, have ever heard a man say: 'You know, I just don't have the time. I just don't; I don't find a way to balance.'"

Obama: "You know why? Because they don't have to balance anything. Sorry. And I hope that that is changing, but so many men don't have to do it all."[...]

[Free Society]

[...]9. What Obama wants men to do to help women.

"Be better. Be better at everything. Be better fathers. Good lord, just being good fathers who love your daughters and are providing a solid example of what it means to be a good man in the world, showing them what it feels like to be loved. That is the greatest gift that the men in my life gave to me. And we've talked about this, the fact that I never experienced abuse at the hands of any man in my life. And that's sad to say that that's a rare reality. So men can be better at that.

"Men can be better husbands, which is be a part of your family's life. Do the dishes. Don't 'babysit' your children. You don't 'babysit' your own children. Be engaged. Don't just think going to work and coming home makes you a man. Being a father, being engaged, all that stuff is important. Be a better employer. When you are sitting at a seat of power at a table of any kind and you look around you and just see you, it's just you and a bunch of men around a table, on a golf course, making deals, and you allow that to happen, and you're okay with that ? be better. . . Just be better."

[R C Dean]

You know why? Because they don't have to balance anything.

Says a lot about her husband, doesn't it?

I never experienced abuse at the hands of any man in my life. And that's sad to say that that's a rare reality

Most men beat women. It Is Known.

Good lord, just being good fathers who love your daughters

Your sons, though? Fuck them.

[Free Society]

I reserve the word 'cunt' for women like Michelle Obama

[This Machine]

Be better. Be better at everything. Be better fathers. Good lord, just being good fathers who love your daughters and are providing a solid example of what it means to be a good man in the world, showing them what it feels like to be loved. That is the greatest gift that the men in my life gave to me. And we've talked about this, the fact that I never experienced abuse at the hands of any man in my life. And that's sad to say that that's a rare reality. So men can be better at that.

Oh, wow! Such sage advice!

FOAD kissy kissy, scum.