Orlando Massage Parlors: Verdicts returned in suspected Russian sex ring operating in US
Officials said six were convicted on various federal charges including conspiracy, traveling in interstate and foreign commerce to promote a prostitution business and using facilities of interstate commerce to promote a prostitution business. The other five were acquitted.
Prosecutors said the women came to America to work as prostitutes. Some defense attorneys in the case, however, argued the prosecution would have been more appropriate as a misdemeanor prostitution case in state court.
The trial began in mid-October and took a significant amount of time as the defendants were tried together, each had their own attorney and several used translators. Prosecutors say the women worked out of massage parlors in Orlando, Tampa, Cincinnati, Boston and Atlanta.
During the trial, jurors saw video taken by investigators during their undercover operations at the so-called massage parlors.