A Mountain View man was arrested after the FBI carried out search and arrest warrants across the Bay Area Wednesday, June 25, including at a residence on Houghton Street in Mountain View, in an ongoing investigation following the shutdown of San Francisco-based MyRedBook.com.
Eric Omuro, 53, was arrested following an indictment by a federal grand jury on charges of using mail and the Internet to facilitate prostitution, as well as counts of money laundering connected to the escort-service website. Omuro allegedly engaged in money transfers to move website revenue into bank accounts he controlled and was involved in more than 20 transactions to launder profits derived from the facilitation of prostitution, according to a press release from the San Francisco U.S. Attorney's office. The indictment seeks the forfeiture of more than $5 million in money and property.
Annemarie Lanoce, a 40-year-old Rocklin resident, was also indicted and arrested on charges of using mail and the Internet to facilitate prostitution, according to the press release.
A notice now replacing the website states the domain name is subject to both civil and criminal forfeiture and is "based on probable cause to believe that this domain name was involved in money laundering derived from racketeering based on prostitution in violation of state and federal law," according to the notice.
The website was used for free listings for services ranging from massage parlors, strippers, dominatrixes and escorts throughout the western U.S.
The Mountain View Voice newspaper received a tip at 11 a.m. from a neighbor of the residence on the 200 block of Houghton, saying that FBI and other federal and local agents had stormed the house. Omuro's residence is listed as being on Houghton Street.
FBI spokesman Peter Lee said Wednesday that a hearing related to the case was set for that afternoon in the federal courtroom of U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins in San Francisco.
Comments
Midtown
on Jun 27, 2014 at 5:40 pm
on Jun 27, 2014 at 5:40 pm
I suppose there is tendency for people to avoid talking about such incidents. It is too far out to be relevant to any of "us" so to speak. Cyber-Brothel's in Palo Alto? However, I hope the press will dig into this case to see if there is human trafficking involved, whether there are many such websites in Mountain View, Palo Alto, and other nearby towns. Why don't police locally monitor such websites? The local police obviously missed this one. How many more are there? Is anyone asking questions? Maybe no.
Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 27, 2014 at 7:00 pm
on Jun 27, 2014 at 7:00 pm
The nail salon I use seems to be run by a plethora of young Vietnamese (I think) girls. They are very competent at what they do and appear to enjoy their work although their English is poor and communicating with them about anything other than what is necessary for them to do their job is difficult. But, I wonder if the salon can make enough to pay them all minimum wage. It has often occurred to me that these girls may be part of some type of trafficking ring.
Would it be silly of me to take this further?
Old Palo Alto
on Jun 27, 2014 at 11:55 pm
on Jun 27, 2014 at 11:55 pm
Wasn't there a Chinese brothel operating out of a condo on University Ave some years back?
Web Link
Registered user
another community
on Jun 28, 2014 at 4:04 am
Registered user
on Jun 28, 2014 at 4:04 am
>Wasn't there a Chinese brothel operating out of a condo on University Ave some years back?
there was one off California Ave. The one PAPD decided they needed to monitor by renting an office space across the street. That one was on redbook. Redbook has been around for a while. Not sure if it was the same owner, but it was up at least 10 years
another community
on Jun 28, 2014 at 1:18 pm
on Jun 28, 2014 at 1:18 pm
There was a Chinese brothel on Kooser Rd in San Jose that was broken up about three years ago, and another near Blossom Hill rd in SJ about five years ago, and a third on Bascom Ave about two years ago. All were run by Chinese madams.
The man in the current article about the cyber-brothel is Japanese.
I have read of a few more in San Jose being run by Russians.
Old Palo Alto
on Jun 29, 2014 at 12:29 am
on Jun 29, 2014 at 12:29 am
I know of 3 high end, discrete brothels operating in PA at the moment.
Old Palo Alto
on Jun 29, 2014 at 1:25 am
on Jun 29, 2014 at 1:25 am
Wouldn't anything located in Palo Alto be considered "high end"?
Woodside
on Jul 3, 2014 at 8:30 am
on Jul 3, 2014 at 8:30 am
[Post removed.]
Old Palo Alto
on Jul 3, 2014 at 9:42 pm
on Jul 3, 2014 at 9:42 pm
[Post removed.]