Posted on Tue, Jan. 12, 2010


Four charged with running South Phila. brothels
By Jeff Gammage



Four illegal immigrants have been indicted for operating brothels in South Philadelphia - the latest development in a federal investigation that already led to the arrests of 50 others in the city believed to be in the United States illegally.

The indictment, unsealed yesterday, charged Jose Claudio Corona Cotonieto, Raymond Gonzalez Salazar, Nicolas Gonzalez Salazar, and a man known by the alias "Leonel Rubio" with conspiracy to run a prostitution ring. It said the brothels were located at residential sites, including 1221-A S. Seventh St. and 1314 S. Sixth St.

The operators, whose homelands were not disclosed, allegedly provided in-house appointments and also transported women to meet customers. About 60 to 70 women were employed from August to this month, generating $9,000 per week, according to U.S. Attorney Michael Levy, who announced the indictment.

Defendants Cotonieto and Raymond Salazar allegedly scheduled women to travel via bus from New York to Philadelphia, where they were picked up and taken to a brothel. After a week of work, the indictment said, they were returned to the bus terminal.

Nicolas Salazar handled incoming calls and transported women to customers, while Rubio was a doorman who guarded the brothels, according to the indictment.

If convicted of all charges, Cotonieto and Raymond Salazar face a maximum prison sentence of 180 years; Nicolas Salazar and Rubio, up to 145 years.

As part of the investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents identified and arrested 50 others believed to be in the country illegally: 39 males from Mexico, nine males from Honduras, and two females from Mexico. They face removal proceedings in immigration court.



or jgammage@phillynews.com.


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