2006 Archived General Reports

[Mannamik]

Too candid camera: Cops say spa's hidden cameras may have broadcast sex acts over the Internet

Publication: Chicago Sun-Times (IL) Date: December 27, 2006

Patrons of a Northwest Side massage parlor may have had their visits with prostitutes broadcast over the Internet, police said. Based on statements from a woman who worked there and the sophistication of computer equipment seized from V.I.P. Salon & Day Spa, police believe sex acts might have been transmitted from small, curtained cubicles onto the Web, said Jefferson Park District Cmdr. Ralph Price.

Officers found tiny cameras mounted in the ceiling of several rooms at V.I.P.

"It's gone beyond just prostitution," Price said. "What you think may be private could be all over the place."

Investigators with the Vice Control Section said they had not heard of any similar computer set-up at other places of prostitution in the city.

"Really, this is kind of unchartered territory for us," said Lt. Paul Kusinski.

Price said the V.I.P. Salon at 4422 N. Milwaukee -- where customers have to be buzzed in -- has been a longtime problem for the neighborhood.

Chicago vice officers have raided the business seven or eight times over the past 18 months, and the city has filed complaints against the business, police said. The landlord of the business also filed a lawsuit in January 2006 seeking to evict the business owner, according to Cook County records.

The owner could not be reached for comment.

Charges stemming from the police raids were typically never more than misdemeanors. But now Chicago Police and the Cook County state's attorney's office are seeking more serious charges against the owner and manager for the alleged unlawful videotaping.

Price -- who has done premise checks himself on the business because of complaints -- said he hopes this latest raid will rid the neighborhood of V.I.P. for good.

"Finally, we can shut this guy down," Price said. "This could be the nail in the coffin."

Price's officers got their break on Dec. 20 when someone placed a 911 call to report that a woman at the business was screaming.

When officers arrived, a sergeant pulled back a curtain on two cubicles to find men having sex with women. But officers then spotted something else -- a pinhole camera in the ceiling.

"We followed all the wires," Price said. "They all went to a central computer."

Real money online: female suspect

One of the women arrested told police they charged the men for sex acts, but the real money was made from the share of profits from broadcasting on the Internet, Price said.

The officers obtained a search warrant, which was executed the next morning, Price said. The computer's hard drive was seized and will be analyzed, and police photographed all the cameras and the wires leading to the server.

The raid resulted in four people being charged, including a 20-year-old man for patronizing a place of prostitution, two women -- 39 and 20 -- for solicitation and a 51-year-old man for keeping a place of prostitution.

asweeney@suntimes.com

Copyright (c) 2006 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.

[Captain Stiffy]

I have seen shows about sattelites that can scan your brain waves like an x-ray machine not only can read what you are thinking but also influence what you are thinking. And this only the technology that they tell us about. Eat drink and be merry. 'cause you never know.

Wow. Turn off the Sci-Fi network, & ask Scotty to "beam you up".

[Mikinrock]

The only thing you need to worry about is a analog cell phone. Many of us got rid of them long ago.Analog cell phones can be picked up on a police scanner in the right frequency band. That is why the government banned certian scanners in the U.S. back in 1994. Some of us still have those scanners and listen very little since there are not many analog phones out there. Also it is the feds who have the right to listen not the local law enforcment. The Rockford police have a hard enough time using thier 2-way radios and could not get the permission to listen in on calls. Relax don't worry.

[LordBlackAdder]

I agree it is sad that our privacy rights are becoming smaller and narrower each year. But the world is changing, and not slowly, either.

By the way, MWM, many of our phones have no SIM card. If your carrier is on CDMA technology (Verizon and many others) the info is in your phone, not on a chip. So it cannot be pulled out easily. GSM technology in T-Moble, Cingular and others does allow the SIM card to be extracted and deactivated. But do you really think the RPD is up to the task and has the energy to track US? Not likely. .

You need to follow the money. As evidenced by a number of reports on here the Rockford Police seem to not place much of a priority in apphrending dangerous criminals. I do not think I am going too far out on a limb by making the assumption that most of the guys on here are not armed and dangerous. The police thus can feel a bit safer on arresting a guy out picking up girls than they would be in arresting a suspected drug dealer who could likely have a gun and have no problems putting it to use. Likewise I would be willing to bet that most of the guys on here could afford to post their own bail (and thus not put a drain on the jail system); hire their own solictor to defend them in court (and thus not give more work to the public defender's office) and also pay a fien imposed upon them if found guilty. Unlike some of the young women they have picked up in the sweeps who wind up having the taxpayers pay for their room and board while they are awaiting trial, then pay for their lawyer and if they are found guilty have the taxpayers once again pay for such things as drug treatment or more room and board if they are sent off to prison. I know that a couple of young women who have been out in Rockford between them owe Winnebago County over $3000 in unpaid court fines. Money I suspect that the government will not be seeing anytime soon.

From the government's point of view it makes economic sense to go after "criminals" who pose little real threat, will not drain the system and pay their fines. Although I don't think it will get as bad as a small town in Missouri that had 4 full time cops to get people (most of them unfamiliar with the area) in speed traps. They covered the entire town budget with traffic fines and the locals loved it since it kept property taxes low. They made the news when they got a state senator. He found out what was happening and got a law passed saying that no city could get more than 20 or 30% (don't recall the exact ammount) of their budget from traffic fines and any ammount over that had to be turned over to Jefferson City. The speed traps stopped, property taxes were raised and several cops found themselves in need of a new employer.

[World Wise]

I agree it is sad that our privacy rights are becoming smaller and narrower each year. But the world is changing, and not slowly, either.

By the way, MWM, many of our phones have no SIM card. If your carrier is on CDMA technology (Verizon and many others) the info is in your phone, not on a chip. So it cannot be pulled out easily. GSM technology in T-Moble, Cingular and others does allow the SIM card to be extracted and deactivated. But do you really think the RPD is up to the task and has the energy to track US? Not likely.

Was out and about 5-9 last night in Rockford and saw many prospects. As I was with people, was unable to stop and check them out. But saw at least 5 between State and Broadway on 7th about 5:45 PM. And more after 9PM, on Broadway east of the Clinic.

[AmIaCriminal2]

I'm sure nobody here is worried about being listened in on, for THIS hobby. But as far as "planting" the bug. They're already IN every phone. It's just the prinicipal of the thing. Our rights to privacy are long gone, & it's sad.

I used to listen to a radio show called Coast To Coast at night's when I drove 18 wheeler's hosted by Art Bell, he'd read things from Roider's that wouldn't always make it to Prime Time, except maybe in foot notes 6 months later, but I would also see on TV things he talks about by the big news networks, anyway, I have seen shows about sattelites that can scan your brain waves like an x-ray machine not only can read what you are thinking but also influence what you are thinking. And this only the technology that they tell us about. Eat drink and be merry. 'cause you never know.

[Captain Stiffy]

I'm sure nobody here is worried about being listened in on, for THIS hobby. But as far as "planting" the bug...... they're already IN every phone. It's just the prinicipal of the thing. Our rights to privacy are long gone, & it's sad.

[LordBlackAdder]

If you have an older phone I do not think you will have to worry about anyone tracking you. I still have an analogue mobile phone, never got a newer one since they are all single NAM. A couple of years ago I hit a deer in the middle of nowhere. When I called 911 they said my location was not coming through, they told me they only knew what section of what county I was in.

I saw an advert on television a week or so ago. It was on a west coast station so it may not be available here yet. I do not recall if it was for a carrier or a new phone. The advert featured a couple of friends talking on their mobiles. Each had a map on their phone screen which showed where the other guy was. They were trying to convince each other they were someplace else, but were not successful in their attempts to do so. They were trying to sell you on the fact that you could now tell exactly where the person you were talking to was calling from. The ability is out there to track your mobile's every movement. Do not know if they archive this information for possible cooperation with law enforcement. I find it a bit unsettling that in theory they could go back and tell me at 2:37 PM on December 23 I was wandering around the Gurnee Mills Mall.

[Traveler One]

I've heard that the new cell phones allow the police to use your phone like a bugging device. They call the phone in away that it doesn't ring, but they can listen in through the speaker phone. They've caught people with it already. It's like back in the 70s and 80s when the paranoid weirdos said the Feds could call your home phone without it ringing and listen in, but this time it's real!!!

Think I'm bullshitting you?!? Read this article from ABC News: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/...u_hear_me.html

Yeah, we're all fucked!

The cops need a court order to plant a bug. They will not get one for every guy on the planet who enjoys a bit of recreational sex. If you are not part of a crime family you are probably ok for now.

[KingDd]

I've heard that the new cell phones allow the police to use your phone like a bugging device. They call the phone in away that it doesn't ring, but they can listen in through the speaker phone. They've caught people with it already. It's like back in the 70s and 80s when the paranoid weirdos said the Feds could call your home phone without it ringing and listen in, but this time it's real!!!

Think I'm bullshitting you?!? Read this article from ABC News: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/...u_hear_me.html

Yeah, we're all fucked!

[Captain Stiffy]

Years ago, they tracked Osama Bin Laden by his cell phone, until he got wise to it. Since I'm not Osama, I probably don't have to worry about it, but I still think it's pretty sad. I wonder if turning it off even stops it.

[MWM]

The cops/feds can track your every movement if you cell phone is turned on. Down to withing a half a block or less. It happend last summer to some crooked US feds (FBI I think) in Italy. The italian govt was watching the US feds and they tracked them through their cell phones. A cell phone constantly sends a short signal to a nearby tower so the network knows where it is in case a call comes in. Apparently the FBI guys didn't know basic 101 of cell phone technology. All the terrorists know this and follow the rule to leave it off and turn it on only when making a call. I think you might even need to take out the SIM card to make sure you can't be tracked but that I'm not sure about. i have never heard of this happening in the US but I am damn sure the feds use this to watch any potential terrorists/threats.

Do not stop because of me. I just found the pics of girls on the street botht he ones you and someone else posted less interesting to look at. Some pictures are better than none and I have no more to post. Besides unless you picked up the girls you are nto 100% certain they are SW. I recall reading a post where a guy thought a girl whose picture was out on the street wwas his sister.

I got a call from US Cellular yesterday- they are wanting me to upgrade one of my phones. I have two on my account one is a pocket phone the other a real old bag phone. Pocket phones do not get the best reception at my place and phones on the second tier cell phone companies (Sprint, IWireless, Nextel, T-Mobile Congular etc) d not work at all here. The bag phone is more powerful and gets good reception- I do not have a landline phone. Seems that they were concerned with the fact I am no longer under contract with them- I have a really old unlimited time plan from when the phones were in my dad's name- and also that I should get new phones since neither of mine has GPS inside them. Seems that if you call 911 from a cell phone that is new they can tell exactly where you are to send services. I am guessing that this can also be used to track you so they can determine what cell tower to use on you and then say exactly where you are. If this si the case it might be possible to tell if someone with a new cell phone has been crusing around the same area for an hour or so and the poice might be able to get some type of wrrrant to get this information and use it in court or something if you get arrested. With the reports here about all the camers to monitor people it seems that the Big Brother may be twins in the form of the cell phone you are carrying around. I did not get new phoens partly because of this and also because would have to get a new rate plan.

[Ralph]

That’s ok, I will just keep my post to the other cites.
It seems I get grief only from Rockford. When I posted about SW, I got hate mail. And now, my pictures aren’t up to par. There is now pleasing this town.
Oh and by the way. The picture that says it’s the "cam" on 7th. Is not a CAM, It’s a sensor for emergency vehicles.

CM

Do not stop because of me. I just found the pics of girls on the street botht he ones you and someone else posted less interesting to look at. Some pictures are better than none and I have no more to post. Besides unless you picked up the girls you are nto 100% certain they are SW. I recall reading a post where a guy thought a girl whose picture was out on the street wwas his sister.

I got a call from US Cellular yesterday- they are wanting me to upgrade one of my phones. I have two on my account one is a pocket phone the other a real old bag phone. Pocket phones do not get the best reception at my place and phones on the second tier cell phone companies (Sprint, IWireless, Nextel, T-Mobile Congular etc) d not work at all here. The bag phone is more powerful and gets good reception- I do not have a landline phone. Seems that they were concerned with the fact I am no longer under contract with them- I have a really old unlimited time plan from when the phones were in my dad's name- and also that I should get new phones since neither of mine has GPS inside them. Seems that if you call 911 from a cell phone that is new they can tell exactly where you are to send services. I am guessing that this can also be used to track you so they can determine what cell tower to use on you and then say exactly where you are. If this si the case it might be possible to tell if someone with a new cell phone has been crusing around the same area for an hour or so and the poice might be able to get some type of wrrrant to get this information and use it in court or something if you get arrested. With the reports here about all the camers to monitor people it seems that the Big Brother may be twins in the form of the cell phone you are carrying around. I did not get new phoens partly because of this and also because would have to get a new rate plan.

[Chicago Monger]

In my opinion the picstures of girls on the street are not as interesting as the ones like I havetken of them in the hotels or my car. Someone needs to staat posting some like those I have no more. I have seen the girl in the red out for years, dotn know her name but she has to be the scariest girl I have seen in Rockford. She once flashed her tits adn yelled to me that I could fuck her in the ass for $10. Maybe he has been in the arrest reports but since I dont know her name so cant tell but I guess she is too obvious for the cops to notice. My expericenwas that the better looking girls seemed to disappear mayeb more guys than me have found one to keep since I would only see tham a couple times while ones like the girl in red are always out and about.

That’s ok, I will just keep my post to the other cites.
It seems I get grief only from Rockford. When I posted about SW, I got hate mail. And now, my pictures aren’t up to par. There is now pleasing this town.
Oh and by the way. The picture that says it’s the "cam" on 7th. Is not a CAM, It’s a sensor for emergency vehicles.

CM

[World Wise]

I last knew Shannon when she had that storefront appartment across from 7th Street Pawn. Yes, I know from a friend that she is being supported by our tax dollars, has gained some weight, and is trying to avoid falling back into the 'life' when she is patrolled.

Picture looks good Ralph. Thanks for including.