Craigslist Prostitution Ring Shut Down in Queens

Photo of Scott "Sal" Rosenberg sans his glasses and his shoes by Louis Lanzano/AP

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has announced a major bust of a Craigslist prostitution ring operating out of Queens. Room Service Entertainment ran their escort service out of Ozone Park and sent women to each of the five boroughs and beyond by advertising on the site's "Erotic Services" section. Today is the first day Craigslist is without their Erotic Services section, after calls from politicians to shut it down led them to replace it with the new staff-monitored "Adult Services" section, the place you can now turn if you're in need of a Shemale Italian Stallionette from State Island.

At the announcement of the bust, Cuomo said, "Until Craigslist gets serious about putting real protections in place, it will continue to be an environment where criminal operations thrive with impunity." His website also explained that Room Service's ads lured in those perhaps just looking to participate in outdoor sports with promises of "skiing" and "rock climbing," which did not actually mean either of those activities, but was actually code for drugs. They also offer GFE or a "girlfriend experience," which was likely quite different than the experience of a long-term, meaningful relationship.

The arrest could mean up to 25 years for the two men accused of running Room Service, Josef Davenport and Scott "Sal" Rosenberg. Also arrested were five female bookers. The Daily News mentions that two of them women went by the names "Nikki" and "Tina." The others went by less seductive names such as "Anna," "Jamie" and "Lisa." Room Service used to also take out ads in the Village Voice, but soon switched all of their business over to Craigslist.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Billy Parker in News on May 20, 2009 3:07 PM

Comments [rss]

Shannon

People who are stupid enough to open up a escort service under their real names and accept payments via credit cards can expect to get shutdown and possibly go to jail or prison. Just because you have a business license and pay taxes doesn't help you it will actually hurt you because the police know who you are. If these guys just used prepaid cell phones, posted internet ads from public wifi and stayed in the background and invisible they might have never got caught. The key to getting away with anything is not to get "made" and identified. Now "Sal" is in prison for 3 to 6 years. These people may have been sleazy but they weren't real bad or evil people. State prison for this is ridiculous there were no minors or force involved. Probation or a few weeks or months in the city jail plus confiscating all illegal gotten gains would have made more sense. Us taxpayers have to pay for the investigation and incarceration of people who did what is totally legal in parts of Nevada, Holland and parts of Germany and other countries. They merely profited off the sexual acts of consenting adults that's it no real horrible crime. Short stay motels profit off the sexual acts of consenting adults and so do a lot of online dating and hookup sites. What a waste of time and money.

GoToHell

Skiing = Cocaine

Rock Climbing = Rock Cocaine

Duh!!!

DOLPHIN

I don't get it. Doesn't it make the job easier for the police. After a few stings, I am sure the ppl doing illegal stuff will stop posting. More revenue for the city from the bail too!

inoyourider

Yeah like this will stop the world's oldest profession.

On to the next website (like Backpage) a la Napster.

Outter Burrougher

it's craigslist's fault in as much as it's the city's fault when you have a whore on a streetcorner

Guest

disgusting

Dirk

What's "rock climbing"?

Guest

Crack rock

Dirk

I see... thanks.

chuzzlewit

well, i sustained an injury, but i was initially hurt with his words.

yeah uh that's a very very sophisticated type of case you have there...

longacre

He said some very nasty things. And I fell down the stairs and my shoes fell off!

The Edge

oh gawd, i skinned my ankle

Dead Himmler

"Can I sue you then? Why not? Sue everybody!!"

jaycjay

More evidence that police and prosecutors shouldn't object to Craigslist carrying those ads. Could a bust be any easier?

SP

"They also offer GFE or a "girlfriend experience," which was likely quite different than the experience of a long-term, meaningful relationship."

Yes quite different. Unlike a long-term, "meanignful" relationship, the "GFE" is probably a lot fun. Oh, and it also involves sex, something most long term "meaningful" relationships end up lacking.

hotstepper

what a fabulous waste of taxpayer dollars.

resa

Skiing? Rock climbing? Do tell...

NannyState

It's the "kayaking" that had me stumped.

drewo

Cuomo: "..it will continue to be an environment where criminal operations thrive with impunity."

Kind of like our government.

This is just another media-attention grab by the Attorney General.