genderberg.com - Guilty Plea In Prostitution Case

One Of The Ringleaders Of A Violent, Interstate Business Faces More Than 20 Years In Prison. He Is Accused Of Bonding Girls Out Of Jail On Condition That They Work For Him

Hatford Courant
August 23, 2006
By EDMUND H. MAHONY, Courant Staff Writer

A West Hartford man accused of being one of the ringleaders of a violent, interstate prostitution business faces more than 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to charges that include conspiracy, promoting prostitution, money laundering and transporting women between states in violation of the Mann Act.

Among other things, Ronald Martinez, 39, who formerly operated a licensed bail bond company called Liberty Bail Bonds, is accused of bonding girls out of jail on the condition that they pay the costs of their bonds by going to work for him as prostitutes.

Martinez was one of a group of nine men and one woman accused in March of running three related prostitution rings. One of the ringleaders is accused of holding two women against their will and forcing them into prostitution. Members of the ring also are accused of employing three minors as prostitutes.

Brian Forbes, 41, who has had various recent addresses in the Waterbury and Hartford areas, is accused of holding the two women, choking one of them, providing them with heroin, forcing them into prostitution and then selling them to another ringleader, Dennis Paris, for $1,200 each.

Paris, 33, also is charged in the case. His case, and that of Forbes and six others are pending in U.S. District Court in Hartford.

Martinez is accused in the indictment against him and the others with using cellular telephones to dispatch drivers to deliver prostitutes to prearranged meetings with their customers in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Customers had the option of paying the $125 to $300 fee in cash or by credit card.

Martinez drummed up customers by advertising in newspapers and in the telephone book as an escort service under the names Fantasy Entertainment Services, Fantasy Companions, Fantasy Playmates, and Connecticut Playmates.

In a related development in the case, Jerome "June" Hargrove, 27, of Windsor, pleaded guilty on Monday to promoting prostitution. He admitted that between November 2003 and September 2005 he was employed as a driver. Federal prosecutors say he was paid $50 every time he delivered a prostitute to a customer.

Martinez and Hargrove are to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christopher F. Droney on Nov. 9. Hargrove faces up to five years in prison. The most serious charge against Martinez carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years.

The remaining defendants in the case have not indicated whether they will plead guilty, the U.S. attorney's office said.