Phoenix Man Indicted for Franchising AZ Prostitution Biz to NM

Phoenix Man Indicted as Additional Co-Defendant in Albuquerque Prostitution Business

Paul Nichta “Franchised” Phoenix Prostitution Business to Albuquerque

Albuquerque, New Mexico – District Attorney Kari Brandenburg announces that Paul Nichta of Phoenix, Arizona has been indicted on 27 felony charges relating to his role in the operation of the Albuquerque prostitution business known as “Desert Divas.”

A Bernalillo County Grand Jury indicted Paul Andrew Nichta of Phoenix on counts including Racketeering, Promoting Prostitution and Conspiracy for promoting the “Desert Divas” prostitution business out of Albuquerque in 2008. Bernalillo County prosecutors have already indicted and received pleas from co-defendants James Bays and Scott Eder in the same case. Both have agreed to provide investigators with truthful information about the prostitution business. Ross Levatter, the final co-defendant, faces trial in February on similar charges relating to the operation of the business in Albuquerque.

This indictment specifically charges Nichta with conspiring with others to engage in a criminal enterprise of prostitution and money laundering and, in doing so, induced at least seven New Mexico women to engage in prostitution, solicited patrons for them and rented locations for prostitution to occur.

Nichta has previously been charged in Arizona for running a prostitution business there.

The indictment, returned Friday charges Nichta with:

Racketeering;

Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering;

Money Laundering;

Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering;

Promoting Prostitution (Establishing, Owning, Maintaining or Managing A House of Prostitution) (2 Counts)

Conspiracy to Commit Promoting Prostitution;

Promoting Prostitution (Soliciting Patrons) (3 counts);

Conspiracy to Commit Promoting Prostitution (Soliciting Patrons);

Promoting Prostitution (Inducing) (7 Counts)

Conspiracy to Commit Promoting Prostitution (Inducing);

Promoting Prostitution (Renting House of Prostitution) (2 Counts);

Conspiracy to Commit Promoting Prostitution (Procuring);

Accepting the Earnings of a Prostitute.

Arizona officials notified the District Attorney’s Office this week that they have taken him into custody and extradition proceedings are underway to bring him to Albuquerque.

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