Father and Son Pimps Are Sentenced to 3 to 9 Years in Prison
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 8, 2013
A case that became a tabloid spectacle when high-priced prostitutes testified in support of a father-and-son pimp team from Pennsylvania ended Monday with the pair being sentenced to three to nine years in prison.
John Marshall Mantel for The New York Times
Vincent George Sr., far right, and his son Vincent George Jr., center, showed little reaction as their sentence was announced.
Related
Father and Son Acquitted of Sex Trafficking Charges (June 20, 2013)
Prostitutes Testify in Defense of Pimps at Sex Trafficking Trial (May 29, 2013)
John Marshall Mantel for The New York Times
Desiree Ellis, center, a prostitute who testified that she had worked for the father-and-son pimp team, watched from the audience.
Prosecutors had sought a harsher sentence for Vincent George Sr. and Vincent George Jr., who were convicted by a judge last month of money laundering and promoting prostitution but acquitted of more serious sex-trafficking charges.
Justice Ruth Pickholtz of State Supreme Court in Manhattan announced the sentence without elaboration, and the defendants showed no strong reaction. But Desiree Ellis, an admitted prostitute who was a defense witness, openly wept as she sat in the audience.
Before hearing the sentence, the jailed Vincent George Jr. apologized to Ms. Ellis and other women “for not being there for them” since his arrest last year and for “wasting the court’s time.” His father declined to speak, but prosecutors said that in pre-sentence interviews, both men refused to take responsibility for their crimes.
At trial, prosecutors said that the elder Mr. George, 56, and his son, 35, had used both threats of violence and false promises of riches to turn troubled women into virtual sex slaves. The defense argued that their clients were exercising free will, calling them “happy hookers.”
The prostitutes made as much as $500,000 a year for the Georges but got only a few dollars a night themselves and had no bank accounts or property, prosecutors said. Evidence showed that the pimps laundered millions of dollars through music recording and car service businesses.
The Georges warned the prostitutes that they would be beaten if they did not bring in as much money as expected or were late to check in, according to wiretap conversations played at trial.
The women painted a different picture, saying they were treated to nice cars, vacations in Florida and affection from their pimps. Some lived together as “family” in a house in Allentown, Pa., and drove in to the city at night to ply their trade, they said.
They deserved severe punishment in my opinion. So finally curtains fall on this high profile case which created quite an ado. Was searching online for Canadian law firms when i stumbled upon this.
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