Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog
Montgomery County Police recently announced the arrest of two women after a 6-month long prostitution investigation into multiple local massage parlors. The investigation spanned three counties and involved the Anne Arundel County and City of Laurel Police Departments. Accorded to the MCPD the two suspects owned massage parlors in Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County and Prince George’s County where sex acts were offered in exchange for money. The investigation began back in October of 2023 at a “spa” in Kensington. Detectives allegedly observed dozens of male costumers exiting the Kensington location daily and obtained confessions from multiple Johns. Detectives also became aware that an employee attempted to bribe a Health and Human Services inspector during an inspection to prevent the business from being shuttered.
In early March detectives executed a search warrant at the Kensington parlor and located one of the owners, a 34-year-old woman from Columbia. Court records show the Howard County woman was arrested for sex trafficking, running a prostitution business and prostitution on March 7, and released two days later on an unsecured bond. The other co-defendant, a 50-year-old woman from Philadelphia, was arrested on March 7 for bribery of a public employee and multiple counts of prostitution. She was released the same day of her arrest on an unsecured bond. Both defendants were charged by way of criminal information in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County where they will stand trial this summer.
Under Maryland law the general prostitution statute prohibits engaging in prostitution and occupying a building used for the purpose of prostitution. Any defendant found in violation of this law faces up to 1 year in jail and a $500 fine under criminal law section 11-303. The severity of prostitution offenses in Maryland increases drastically for those alleged to have received profits from the business of prostitution. Receiving earnings of a prostitute under criminal law 11-304 is still a misdemeanor, but the maximum penalty jumps to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Those who are charged with receiving earnings of a prostitute are typically also charged with human trafficking under Maryland criminal law section 3-1102. Human trafficking and or sex trafficking has a broad definition under Maryland law and is considered a sex offense under Maryland law. Anyone convicted faces mandatory sex offender registration for 25 years as a tier II sex offender. It is currently a misdemeanor with a 10-year maximum penalty, though the violation becomes a felony with a 25-year maximum penalty if a minor is involved. Anyone who participates in the business of prostitution, which includes receiving money, encouraging participation or harboring a participant may face human trafficking charges.
If you have been charged or are being investigated for any type of criminal offense, contact Maryland prostitution lawyer Benjamin Herbst anytime for a free consultation. Benjamin specializes in solicitation, human trafficking and defense in all other sexual crimes. He has won human trafficking jury trials and has secured dismissals in dozens of prostitution cases. Benjamin has extensive experience representing Johns in prostitution stings and knows how to pick apart the State’s case. Police often obtain evidence in prostitution cases by speaking to defendants and pressuring them to answer questions. We have seen numerous instances of unlawful questioning and will fight to suppress any illegal evidence obtained by law enforcement. A prostitution conviction can leave a permanent scar on a person’s background, but having an experienced solicitation lawyer in your corner can prevent this from happening. Benjamin fights tooth and nail for dismissals in all his client’s cases and is standing by to offer a free consultation about your Maryland prostitution charges. Benjamin also has experience representing defendants charged with bribery and other crimes against public administration. Contact him 7 days a week at 410-207-2598 to discuss the defense you may have in your criminal charges. The Firm handles cases in Prince George’s County, Anne Arundel County, Montgomery County and all other jurisdictions in Maryland, including federal court.
Resources:
Sex Trafficking Investigation Leads to the Arrest of Two Female Suspects Operating Illicit Massage Parlors in Several Jurisdictions, montgomerycountymd.gov.