Three Individuals Involved in an Internet Prostitution
Ring Indicted
Martin C. Carlson, United States Attorney for the Middle District of
Pennsylvania today announced the indictment of three individuals charged
with operating a multi-state, Internet-based prostitution ring.
Roger Sedlak, Marianna Sedlak and Kelli Kaylor
each were charged with three crimes: transporting and causing the transportation in interstate
commerce of an individual with the intent that the individual engage in prostitution,
persuading and enticing an individual to engage in interstate travel for
the purpose of prostitution, and conspiracy to commit those offenses. Roger
Sedlak, age 47, and Marianna Sedlak, age 40, husband and wife, reside in
Perkasie, Pennsylvania; Kaylor, age 23, is a resident of Illinois.
Carlson said the charges stem from an investigation
conducted by the Harrisburg offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and the Internal Revenue Service -- Criminal Investigation. The investigation
revealed that the Sedlaks began operating an "escort service" known as Diamond Escorts through
the Internet. The indictment alleges that women would apply to be "escorts" and
would have to meet personally with Roger Sedlak to be accepted for employment. Clients
submitted personal information online to gain access to the service. Roger
Sedlak held himself out as an executive of a non-existent airline known as
CQ Air. Using various aliases, he would rent rooms at a variety of
local hotels claiming that he was using them for airline business. It
is alleged that the “escorts” would travel from various states
to Pennsylvania to engage in prostitution and that their earnings would be
split with Sedlak. Marianna Sedlak was allegedly the primary scheduler
of the appointments, and Kaylor became involved in the operation at the beginning
of 2009.
If convicted of the charged offenses, each
defendant faces a statutory maximum of up to 35 years in prison and $750,000
in fines. U.S. Attorney
Carlson said the investigation is continuing. Carlson thanked the FBI
and IRS--CI for their investigative work. The case is being prosecuted
by Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy.
****
An Indictment or Information
is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made
by the Grand Jury and/or United
States Attorney against a defendant. A charged Defendant
is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the
United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges.
Press
Releases | Philadelphia
Home