South Philly Brothel Bust Stuns Locals

PHILADELPHIA - Fifty people are facing federal charges in connection with a prostitution ring that was busing New York City working girls to be paid for pleasure at a couple of South Philly brothels.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and Philadelphia police said four men – described as illegal aliens – are charged with conspiring to run the ring that offered clients both "in-house" and "delivery" services.

Fox 29's Joyce Evans reported that three of those alleged ringleaders are in custody.

Jose Claudio Corona Cotonieto and Raymond Gonzalez Salazar are accused of arranging for and scheduling the women's trips. Authorities said Nicolas Gonzalez Salazar handled customer calls for the delivery of the women and transported them to the customers.

The indictment further alleges that Cotonieto and Raymond Salazar kept track of the customers serviced by the prostitutes by having them use tickets or punch cards. Approximately 60 to 70 different females worked for the defendants between August 2009 and January 2010, generating for them approximately $9,000 per week in proceeds.

Another man still being sought goes by the name "Leonel Rubio" and is believed to have been the gatekeeper of the brothels. He was described as guarding them and controlling access by the customers and the prostitutes.

Immigration officials said Monday night that the arrests in the case included 39 males from Mexico, nine males from Honduras and two females from Mexico.

According to the indictment, the alleged activity occurred at residential locations, 1221A South Seventh Street and 1314 South Sixth Street in South Phila.

U.S. Attorneys and immigration agents said what they saw over a six-month period was an elaborate and very profitable prostitution ring run by illegal immigrants.

Some neighbors said they saw signs, but who knew this was up?

"Just the steady flow of people to come back and forth in the neighborhood," said longtime resident William Chevere, adding, "They had some type of advertisement in the window. … It was like a picture of a woman in a gown."

Most neighbors were stunned by the activity occurring right under their noses.

"I'm shocked. I'm shocked that this is going on on our corner," one woman said. "I have not seen anybody go in and out of that house."

"Two brothels – two of them?" another woman said, incredulously. And they're getting $9,000 in one week. OK."

Of the arrests, she said, "I think that's great because that would bring a lot of crime and, to me, it isn't safe at all.

"I find that unbelievable," said a third woman. "I seen this morning they took a lady out in handcuffs."

The investigation is, of course, continuing. And agents said any of the people in custody who are found to be in this country illegally will be deported.