"Adult" vacation biz warning.

[J D Sauser]

In the recent issue of a local expat new/paper circulating on the North Coast, Adscene, there's an article about a US citizen being charged in the US (NY) of promoting prostitution in the third degree and human trafficking legislation for selling "AI" sex tours to the DR. The article goes on to explain that this person ran an on-line travel page advertising "adult" vacations "All inclusive.
If found guilty a penalty up to seven years in jail could be the verdict.

There are more articles scattered all over the web about this case which was scheduled to be tried from Jan. 23rd on:
North Country Gazette Man Accused Of Promoting Sex Tours On Craigslist
http://crimene.ws/category/craigscrimelist/
press release title
Tomkins Cove man accused of promoting sex tour
Covering the Hudson to the Catskills!
MidHudsonMostWanted.Com
DRSol :: News Archive :: US man charged with running“sex tours” to Dominican Republic
Tomkins Cove man accused of promoting sex tour | lohud.com | The Journal News

The reason I am posting this is, that not too many months ago, last year, a new poster posted on the "Employment" Forum about an extraordinary business opportunity.
When I inquired, I was offered to run such an operation here. Basically picking up Johns and the girl(s), driving them to the "villa" and back to the airport and barrio respectively, for a fixed "commission" per deal. I obviously declined siting, besides moral considerations, the risks for such a person, especially being a foreigner, to be randomly charged of "pimping" and pressured to no good end by the police, fiscals judges and competing local pimps and hoodlum and that, against the proponent's re-assurances I doubted that these operations would stay under the radar of US law very long. Moral issues set aside, I would not have been willing to take risks here and also not being able to enter the US without been greeted by the police.

So, if somebody has received the same or a similar proposal and was actually toying with the idea, this and other discussions we have had here in the past about participating in the sex biz in the DR should make everyone re-consider.

... J-D.

[swooperman]

What is the matter with America? Sex for pay is the same as marriage without a property agreement! Whether you are inclined, or not, there is really no victim. In a property agreement there is a chance that someone could be cheated. Prostitution in the US is legal as long as you film it. Then it is Art (porn) Marijauna is illegal, but cigarettes are not. I know I am gonna lose the cigarette smokers on this one. But the pot heads just like the fact that sex, cake, and jokes are better when they have a puff! They are not addicted to a worthless product that kills them while they stink. Booze is another matter, but I am having a drink right now, so I can't comment!

[Lambada]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

The reason I am posting this is, that not too many months ago, last year, a new poster posted on the "Employment" Forum about an extraordinary business opportunity.
When I inquired, I was offered to run such an operation here. Basically picking up Johns and the girl(s), driving them to the "villa" and back to the airport and barrio respectively, for a fixed "commission" per deal. I obviously declined siting, besides moral considerations, the risks for such a person, especially being a foreigner, to be randomly charged of "pimping" and pressured to no good end by the police, fiscals judges and competing local pimps and hoodlum and that, against the proponent's re-assurances I doubted that these operations would stay under the radar of US law very long. Moral issues set aside, I would not have been willing to take risks here and also not being able to enter the US without been greeted by the police. ... J-D.

Is that post still there, JD? Could you give a link to warn people off?

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by Lambada

Is that post still there, JD? Could you give a link to warn people off?

I was going to write that it MUST have been deleted since, but after a quick research of my e-mails and then search by date of the employment Forum, I was surprised to find it was still there, unanswered but with 340 views.

Hiring Customer Service Rep. in Puerto Plata -- Work from Home

The reason it may have survived, may be that it seemed totally inoffensive and respectful of the Forum's Spam guidelines.
Also the reason I did, write and maybe others may have. So, your question, Lambada, does make sense.

I basically inquired about the "open position" and got one e-mail outlining what they were looking for.

The message was clear and forthright and professional and even included a warning that this was not for "everybody".
Besides the job description they indicated that they ware operating such an outfit around Acapulco, MX. Their website (www.xoticmexico.com) is now suspended.

After mine declining the offer and explaining why and my concerns I would suggest there were no further communications.


I am in no way implying that the above "offer" and the Jonathan Scharf case are in any way directly related. However this should give some thought of warning to those considering participating in such a scheme here, since besides the obvious risks here, one may stand a chance to also face prosecution under the revised 2007 Human Trafficking Legislation, which clarified that selling travel-related services for the purpose of prostitution is a felony in the US.


... J-D.

[Chirimoya]

Thanks JD. As moderator of the Employment Forum, I decided to delete the post linked above and closed the poster's account. However, I'm copying the contents of the post in the quote box below for information purposes; it contains no contact details.

It serves to inform job seekers replying to seemingly innocuous posts that some work offers may end up being more than they bargained for.

Hiring Customer Service Rep. in Puerto Plata -- Work from Home
We are starting a new business venture in Puerto Plata in 1-2 months. I'm looking for someone who's available and reliable to work for us in customer service.

Although most of the work will involve reading emails or talking on the phone with us... eventually, there will be a little driving where you go and pickup our clients from the PoP airport.

This is part time. It will not pay very large amounts, but when we start having a lot more clients it will pay better.

Please send me a private message with your email and contact details if you are interested.

MUST SPEAK fluent Spanish and good English. Someone who is extremely familiar with the area is a good plus.

[madera]

i went to one in santiago two years ago. membership required, run by an u.s. guy. was a blackbeards in the city. more upscale. probably higher priced nice concept like a dom. playboy club. as hard as it is here i found out after so many months being open that they had no electric bill(stealing)electric, and when the co. came by and disconect them - went to candle power for lights. breezes blowing beautiful local furniture polyester curtains ...fire.... that was a major blow... never re opened after that. all i can say is that sex is big biz all over the world... this is a destination for that. and in the u.s. they arrested a few teenage girls for sexting. sending pics via cell phone of their unmentionables...those kids are in trouble...think of the legal bills.

[Lambada]

Thank you both JD & Chiri. That post could easily be mistaken for call centre work or somesuch, particularly by 'eager' applicants, of which we get quite a few posting here. And particularly by those new to the country who don't have JD's ability to spot the inherent risks.

A shame someone had to misuse the Employment Forum, which is, of itself a great idea. Maybe worth an addition/disclaimer to Chris's posting guidelines? It actually looks as if the poster of the 'job' had already broken guidelines because JD reported that it was 'commission'.
Guidelines for using this forum.

[scrubmuncher]

This stuff confuses me. Exactly what is legal and isn't legal, what is ignored and what is pulled up. I see nothing wrong with sextours at all, it is a safer package and controlled with circumstances for those who overstep the mark, on both sides of the bed.
Is this just an American thing, if so, nuff said!!

[Lambada]

JD's post really is very clear. He itemises 1) the risks for a foreigner living here in DR of getting involved working for such an organisation & 2) the felony status in the US.

[scrubmuncher]

Yes, I see that. My comment was not about the post. It was a general comment on the plight of state laws and contradictions within.