Local officials charge four in prostitution case
An investigation into prostitution involving numerous municipal, county, and state agencies resulted in charges for four individuals.
According to Iowa City police, one of the agencies involved, investigators used the Internet to locate and contact people who appeared to be offering sexual encounters for money.
Heather Brown, 21, Rock Island, Ill., and Lisa Nolker, 26, Springfield, Ill., were charged with prostitution. Samuel Scott, 47, Davenport, was charged with pimping, and Kathleen McFadden, 20, Springfield, Ill., was charged with prostitution, pimping, and possession of marijuana.
Of the four, only Scott has been arrested. Police have obtained arrest warrants for the others.
An undercover officer posed as a customer and contacted a suspect after viewing an online solicitation, Iowa City police said. The two arranged a meeting at an area hotel, and Brown allegedly arrived at that hotel Feb. 8 and discussed what acts she would perform.
Brown was to give any money she earned to Scott, who had driven her to the hotel, and Scott would determine how much money Brown could keep, according to Iowa City police.
Scott reportedly admitted to police he was to provide transportation and protection for Brown.
An undercover officer contacted McFadden and reportedly arranged to meet her and Nolker at a hotel on Feb. 11, where they discussed specific sexual acts.
Officers found a notebook in McFadden’s car — which McFadden admitted was hers — with names and times for other appointments. The two women were also listing their services on Craigslist.com, authorities said.
None of the people arrested were from the Johnson County area, but the transactions were allegedly set up online, and they came to Iowa City to commit a crime, Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek said.
The investigation had been going on for several months after officials initiated it through information received from other investigations, the sheriff said. The investigation grew to include the state Division of Criminal Investigation, UI police, Cedar Rapids police, and Coralville police.
“I don’t think it’s going to end anytime soon,” Pulkrabek said. “It’s a new area we’ll keep an eye on.”
It’s hard to say how common prostitution is in the area, and there hadn’t been a similar investigation in many years, he said.
“It’s not something that’s commonly reported unless something goes wrong,” he said. “Because of the type of crime, its hard to say how much activity there is.”
Prostitution is an aggravated misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $6,250. Pimping is a Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $7,500. Possession of marijuana is a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $1,875.
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