Does Room Service Entertainment Demonstrates Technology Merged With The Oldest Profession Can Be Profitable Until You Attract The State's Attention?

Seven individuals are accused of running a prostitution ring in New York on Craigslist. This is an obvious attempt by the State of New York to keep the world's oldest profession from merging with new technology. Craigslist has shown signs of cooperating as it has replaced its "erotic services" listings with "screened ads."

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo accused the the seven of running a 24-hour prostitution ring called "Room Service Entertainment" from Craigslist's erotic services section from June 2007 to December 2008. The indictment named the company's co-owners as Scott Rosenberg, 45, and Josef Davenport, 31. Patricia Krupa, Joanna Mercado, Sylvia Soto, Lina Vazquez and Barbara Morris were also named as bookers for the alleged prostitution ring.

Allegedly, Craigslist was the "sole vehicle through which the company operated," according to Cuomo's office. See: Craigslist replaces alleged 'Internet brothel'
and Criminal action over Craigslist sex ads

Ads often contained either a semipornographic photograph and a phone number to call to "arrange a date." Room Service Entertainment allegedly employed 10 drivers and 16 prostitutes. Obviously, if true, this will just ad to New Yorks unemployment rate. If the company had operated in Nevada, it would have most likely have been legitimate. But since it was in New York, Room Service Entertainment allegedly masked credit card transactions through a Chase merchant account utilizing charges for magicians, clowns, balloons or disc jockeys. (At times, perhaps legitimate descriptions of the working women. I.E. for the man who has not had an erection in years, perhaps a prostitute was a magician. For the elder john who had not smiled in years, perhaps she was a clown."

If convicted all could face up to 25 years in prison. Craigslist chief executive Jim Buckmaster released a statement saying the activities took place in 2008, "well before Craigslist eliminated erotic services and commenced manual screening of all ads posted to adult services." But as these serious charges are pending, might one question whether there are more serious crimes that need to be stopped than the world's oldest profession merged onto the internet?