Video Released In Orl. Weekly Sex Ads Case
POSTED: Thursday, November 8, 2007
UPDATED: 2:37 am EST November 9,
2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Local 6 News on Thursday obtained and aired video that the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation said helped convince a grand jury to indict the Orlando Weekly and three of its employees accused of knowingly selling ads to prostitutes for sex services.
Brian Martin, 43, the classified director for the Orlando Weekly; Katherine Miller, 27, an account executive; and Matthew Whiting, 37, an account executive, were arrested on aiding and abetting prostitution charges during a job fair last month at the downtown Orlando Marriott Hotel by MBI officers.
The MBI released the video in response to WKMG-TV's public-records request. The portion that aired on Local 6 News is one of 22 presented to the grand jury.
On the video, Martin is shown going over ad rates with an undercover officer he thought was a woman placing an ad for an adult escort service, Local 6 News reported.
MBI agents said they launched the investigation to prove that the Weekly's staff allegedly knew they were profiting from prostitution by selling escort ads in the paper's adult section, Local 6 News reported.
"We have those things that we believe establish the fact that they had full knowledge that the advertisements they were placing in the Orlando Weekly were for prostitution services," MBI Commander Paul Zambouros said.
"So you can say without reservation these guys know they're dealing with prostitutes?" Local 6 News reporter Mike Holfeld asked.
"Absolutely," Zambouros said.
The attorney for the arrested trio, Steve Mason, was presented a copy of the video on Thursday afternoon. He was not available for comment.
The MBI said there is an additional segment with Miller that shows her admitting that she alerts clients to upcoming police stings, Holfeld reported.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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