The MBI has arrested three of our employees

Posted by Ian Monroe on 10/19/2007 3:15:35 PM Permalink | Comments: 6

Comments on this story:

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Deestheman said:

 

posted on: 10/19/2007 3:48:15 PM

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Deestheman said:

From the article, It seems to me that the police are blaming the Orlando Weekly for advertising, when they should be going after the ppl who are actually putting the advertisements in the paper.

If the undercover officers actually said, "Hey, this is a cover up, we're actually prostitutes and we will use our advertisements to gain clientele." then I could see the arrests as legit. However, if the undercover officers come into the office being flirtatious and "insinuating" that's what they're going to do, that's different. They can insinuate all they want. Orlando Weekly isn't in a position to decide if their activities are illegal unless they blatantly say so.

It's not their job to delve further and try to solve crime. They're just advertising a product. I don't agree with the method of the police. From the article, I gather the opinion that the police can't get a hold of the ppl committing the acts, so they're trying to crush, and frighten the advertisers in order to hinder the advertisers from hosting any such advertisements.

I get the point, but it's not fair to those that it hurts. It's not fair to the advertisers (who were arrested) and it's not fair to those who are advertising their massage parlors and legit escourt services who will be affected because Orlando Weekly will be "screening" or "policing" advertisers in order to avoid situations like this.

So, now if I'd like to advertise my massage parlor, do I have to "prove" that I'm not secretly running a prostitution ring, in order for the Orlando Weekly to advertise my shop? I don't get it. It's not fair, and it's just wrong. It's an unjustifyable means to an end.

As for the article itself, it said this:
"two female agents went undercover and presented themselves as prostitutes to at least two of the Weekly's advertisers, Lutz said. They made it clear that their ads were for promoting their prostitution businesses."

I'd like to know, how did the "make it clear"?  Did they actually say "Mo'fo we ho's, $10 and I'll make ya holla."  Please, define what is meant be "clear".

On another note, later the ad says that:
"Accordingly, since 2003, law enforcement officers have made eighty 80 arrests for prostitution connected to advertisements in the Orlando Weekly."

What this says to me is if the Orlando Weekly wasn't around then the police wouldn't have been able to locate the 80 arrestees.  Hmm.  How about, "Thanx OW for your help in us cleaning up the streets."  Hello, McFly?!!  If you want to use the Weekly as a tool to weed out prostitution rings, go ahead and do so.  But don't silence the paper that is indirectly HELPING you find and arrest those that are doing illegal things.  Especially when the paper isn't doing anything illegal.  The article makes it seem as if the Orlando Weekly didn't advertise the advertisements of the criminals, which they arrested, then those criminals wouldn't have committed the acts.  As if, the Orlando Weekly is somehow involved.  The only benefits they get is the pay from advertisers.  This is just ridiculous!  I'd really like to know how this does a better job in stopping prostitution, as opposed to sending undercover agents to the institutions which are advertised in the OW which the police feel are actual prostitution rings. 

I'm really sorry for those involved and arrested, you have my support.  You don't deserve to be used and treated in this manner.

posted on: 10/19/2007 4:12:40 PM

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Anna said:
I heard that the only reason the MBI is going after the Weekly is because they (the Weekly) writes articles everytime the MBI screws up! It's a newspaper. If it were a paper aimed toward minors, then that would be a different story altogether. But it's not; it's basically something adults read. I agree that the police should be focusing on stopping these prostitution rings instead of the newspapers and magazines that post their ads.
posted on: 10/19/2007 8:43:44 PM

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droneoperator said:


posted on: 10/19/2007 10:50:19 PM

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droneoperator said:
This travesty of an "investigation" has got to be one of the worst cases of bent logic that I have ever seen. Basically, what we have is the Orlando Weekly doing their job; selling advertising to legitimate businesses and occasionally writing the scathing, truthful article about the complete ineptness that is the MBI. This is similar to arresting advertising sales reps from Rolling Stone because one of their liquor advertisors 'made it clear' at some point and in a nebulous fashion that they are hoping some kid will see their ad and want some Bacardi. We are way past Big Brother. Now you don't have to worry too much about who is watching you; instead, you should worry about who makes allegations against you. And in true criminal fashion, you are of course guilty until proven rich.

posted on: 10/19/2007 10:57:38 PM

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xenlab said:
This is an outrage! How can the director of a law enforcement agency think it was going to be a good idea to bust up a Legit Job Fair, where plenty of eager, earnest and desperate job seekers were gathered to look for work. Congratulations - you probably just cost some one their only chance at saving their house, kids, life, etc. Times are tough, and you want to disturb what amounts to economic development and our city moving forward, and lowering its unemployment numbers?

Bill Lutz should be fired for this alone.

Short-sighted leadership seems to abound in the state. Every time I hear about a cop on the news, its either crap like this, or they just shot an unarmed man for resisting arrest, or tasered a kid for not being quiet (ok - that one kind of deserved it :).

Are we in NY? Is the whole law enforcement system in this city so corrupt, inept, and greedy for publicity (Look busy, everyone - crime rates are on the rise!) that we're going to spend two years to bust copy writers? We've got Metro West turning into Western Crime Hills, and they want to arrest Ad Salespeople!?

Doesn't Bill Lutz have to check with actual lawyers before they go out on their daytime raids, and spend two years (of tax payer money) building a case full of trumped up charges, and violations to the FIRST AMENDMENT of the Bill of Rights - all because the local alternative rag has been riding their dumb asses for being dumb asses for at least 2 years?

This is a gross abuse of power, and is practically criminal, in my opinion.

I get it! Prostitution is illegal in this state. So why don't you go bust the whores then? Oh, they won't party with you at Cleo's anymore after your entrapment scheme 2 years ago?

Even if the OW employees allegedly knew that respondents to those ads were going to get a happy ending, it is not illegal to publish information about illegal things. Case in point: High Times magazine. A US Publication devoted to the highly illegal recreational use of the Marijuana crop. Words and Thoughts are not illegal yet - so hold your horses there Orwell.

I could go on, but I posted my full story here.
posted on: 10/22/2007 5:13:54 PM

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