AMP thoughts since stings
So I went to BO about a month ago, days before the news about all the stings. Since then, I haven't been able to relax about it. The day I got there, the hostess came out and made sure another guy was parked in the right spot, then asked me where I was parked when I came in.
A few days later, the news broke about Jupiter and I guess a couple spas in Orlando.
Now I'm worried that cameras were in BO the one time I visited.
Earlier this week I got a call on my cell "no caller I'd". It was the local SO, they asked if I was someone by another name and asked if I had property somewhere I don't. I told them no and that it wasn't me, that I didn't know the guy they were looking for, and that was the end. A few minutes later they call back with the same question about a different property, and asked if I knew another guy. After thinking about it, I'm worried that they were just trying to get my voice on tape to match up with any surveillance they have.
Then two nights ago, after getting home around 9 pm I noticed a SO cruiser on the side of the road a few houses down from mine, and noticed the deputy at a house on the other side of my house. He was talking to the homeowners there, but when he left there, he had to walk by my house to get back to his cruiser. I'm worried he was just matching plates with what may be on surveillance.
To say I'm worried is an understatement. To think this has all blown over, I think, I'd wishful thinking. Now I find myself looking up fines and fees associated with solicitation and wondering what the heck I would do if I end up arrested. Should I be looking for a defense attorney already? Is there anything I can do anyway? Doubtful, but these are the thoughts I'm having, all from one trip to BO. It wasn't worth it, it's not worth it, and I wish I had never done it.
Please guys, think things through before you make any decisions regarding this. We all have a lot to lose, and who knows what Law enforcement has in place or has had in place for how long? I'm worried this "sting" covers more than what's been reported already, and even from that, I can't stop worrying about it.
If anyone has any feedback, feel free to PM me if you don't want to post a discussion.
Be safe, think critically.
Police Stops and Questioning
Some misunderstanding here about traffic stops and making statements;.
1) Police DO NOT have to read you Miranda warnings (your rights) unless you are a.) in custody and b.) being questioned. For practical reasons that means whatever you volunteer during a routine traffic stop or other police inquiry can be used against you. Do not say anything if questioned about potential criminal activity. The police know that most people are confused about this and they will exploit it because they know it might be their only bite at the apple.
2) You MUST provide your identity if asked by police. If stopped for a traffic violation after visiting a spa it may just be a coincidence. If the conversation goes to where you are coming from or what you were doing at the place, then assume the stop was a ruse. Politely say you do not wish to make any statements without first contacting your attorney. If they persist then you can ask if you are free to leave. Do not make any statements other than your identity information. Tell the police you are not willing to make any statements and would like to contact an attorney first for your own protection. Do not try to lie or make up any stories, it will go bad for you quickly. By stating you want an attorney and are not willing to make any statements you are telling the truth and not breaking any law.
3) The Miranda warning states in part, ". Anything you say can / will be used against you", so if that is the case, what can you possibly say on your behalf, even if you are completely innocent? Nothing! There is nothing in Miranda that states what you say will be used to exonerate or clear you. This warning is telling you that even if you are innocent the police can use your statements against you. So do not say anything. Get an attorney.
4) If arrested and taken to a police station for booking, do not make any statements other than basic identity, etc. Like the information on your driver license. If police want to give you a chance to tell "your side of the story" tell them you would be willing to but only after first consulting with an attorney. If you are in custody, that means not free to leave, request an attorney. If you are in custody and the police want to ask you questions state you want an attorney. They are not supposed to ask you any questions when in custody and you request an attorney.
Any lawyer or police officer will tell you that if they were questioned as a suspect they would also remain silent an ask for an attorney. If they would do it, why shouldn't you?
Kraft has two heavy hitting lawyers. They will try to suppress evidence first because no evidence = no charges. It's always the weakest link. Kraft is only one of a few really rich people charged here, so expect millions of dollars to be spent on simple misdemeanor charge defense due to the embarrassing nature of the crimes.
The woman who was "trafficked" may turn out to be a willing prostitute that only claimed she was "forced" so as not to be charged as a prostitute. It will be clear under cross-examination later. Forced = trafficked, Willing = smuggled or just a prostitute, but not trafficked.
Many a fat 50 year-old bald man (nothing personal guys, LOL) has married the 25 year-old Russian Internet bride only to get her a visa and a few months later she leaves him. Organizations like Catholic Social Services will coach them to say they were abused and boom, immigration judge grants them entry based on the victimization. If these "victims" were willing prostitutes and found to be lying to cover their assess then the whole trafficking thing will go down the drain.
At least one man was already mis-identified by police and the charges dropped against him, that means even though it seems air tight mistakes were still made.
Why is there no further media coverage or police statements regarding the" armed men" who were transporting the women? They are way more high priority felons than anyone else mentioned so far. Where did they get this information?
Also curious, I searched the posts here from the affected counties and have not seen one entry of anyone being stopped by police for a traffic violation after visiting a massage parlor. None of the men stopped are members here or from any other location? I would expect to see some, at least posted before they were taken down just out of suspicion. If it were going on now in other counties I would also expect someone would have posted about being stopped.
Correcting Misinformation
[QUOTE=Jiat2001;4185751]I drove by after reading something about CB reopening soon. If true then I would avoid that place due to recent reports. Stay safe.[/QUOTE]Actually, the truth is that CB was closed down voluntarily to regroup after lesser competitors attacked (called LEO). The licenses are valid and in order (I checked). When it reopens, I will certainly visit as often as my wallet allows me to.
Be safe.
Cherry Blossom GRAND (re) OPENING! - Buyer Beware?
[QUOTE=Jiat2001;4185751]I drove by after reading something about CB reopening soon. If true then I would avoid that place due to recent reports. Stay safe.[/QUOTE]Electing to avoid patronizing any new establishment housed in the same building as the former Cherry Blossom Spa is probably wise for any of a number of reasons, just as the "re-opening" may, itself, be the only logical next step for the facility.
The certifiably paranoid may come to a "logical" conclusion that this could [B]ONLY[/B] be a sting operation set up by LE as a honey-trap to lure in client "johns" for prosecution. If that were true, I might suggest the well-informed customer seek alternative establishments for anything more than a simple back massage.
On the other hand, the obliviously optimistic may observe that the entire facility is set up for showers and tiny massage rooms, making any other use of the building a costly endeavor to totally gut / remodel everything from wall-to-wall. The least-cost tenant for a landlord to attract (one who can use the building "as-is") is going to be another spa / massage type place. However, with the watchful eye of the Health Department, not to mention LE, leaning heavily on the entire operation, a logical assumption would be that any spa / massage type place going into that particular address is most likely going to be [B]REQUIRED[/B] to keep to the straight-and-narrow legitimate business model. If [U][i]THAT[/i][/U] were true, I might STILL suggest that the well informed customer seek alternative establishments for anything more than a simple back massage!
Either way, I'm not inclined to go there.
Interestingly, a similar situation has popped up in Tampa on Kennedy Blvd. Some readers here will recall a local Tampa "news" reporter doing an expose' on all the spas on Kennedy Blvd and how they are "obviously" dens of prostitution. From that grew a local church-bourne morality group of self-righteous do-gooders seeking to "Clean Up Kennedy" (that's even the name of their FB page), who actually picketed outside one of the more popular and well-reviewed AMPs (kinda like CB used to be). The building turned out to be owned by some former city-connected guy, so this group also tried to shame the landlord into taking actions counter to his personal business interests ([I]i.e. to evict a paying tenant and, as a result, go without income while maintaining the expense of property ownership[/I]). The business actually elected to leave on their own, due to the public pressure of picketers, etc. , and the building was vacant for some time (kinda like CB used to be). Recently, a new spa / massage type place has opened in the same building (kinda like CB), ostensibly for all the same logical business reasons described above regarding use of a facility so equipped. I think the new sign out front of this Tampa place says something like "Foot Massage", but it's clearly an Asian Massage Parlor. That said, for all the same reasons also cited above, many potential clients may be of the belief that it's either some sort of expensive LE sting, or (more likely if you ask me) the establishment will be on the straight-and-narrow legitimate business model and I doubt they'll be getting much business from well-read, well informed mongers in the Tampa area!
Don't ever talk to the police
[QUOTE=LongWhiskers;4186038]I agree. Any good lawyer or police officer will tell you that if they were questioned as a suspect, they would also remain silent an ask for an attorney. If they would do it, you should too.[/QUOTE]This 46 minutes video by an attorney and cop is a must watch for anyone who has any questions about what to do if a police officer attempts to ask you anything. The answer is "say nothing". Shut up and ask for a lawyer. You can only make things worse for yourself by talking. Never better. It's hard to do because you think it will make you look guilty but they already think you are guilty. That's why they are talking to you.
[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE[/URL]
Can I get in on this request
[QUOTE=KoolZero;4187962]Hi,
If anyone has info on Amanda from GG, could you please message me. I saw hsr in December before her vacation. Sbe gave a really great massage and had a great personality to match. I was hoping to see her again next month on my visit back, but GG is now closed according to the forum posts.
Thanks for any help.[/QUOTE]If it's okay, I'd like to get anything on the whereabouts of Amanda, as well.