Citizens Against Trafficking October 17, 2009

Violent Crime Associated with the Sex Industry in Rhode Island

Melanie Shapiro Co-founder, Citizens Against Trafficking

The rapidly expanding sex industry in Rhode Island is a magnet for criminals. In recent years, criminal activity, ranging from murder to money laundering to sex trafficking, has occurred in the clubs and spa-brothels that make up the sex industry. The perpetrators range from individual violent criminals to international organized crime groups.

These establishments bring crime into our communities, including companion crimes such as drug trafficking. They also bring health problems, such as sexually-transmitted diseases to the community. They endanger the livelihood of neighboring businesses and put children at risk. This Bulletin will focus on some of the violent crimes associated with the sex industry in the past 5 years.

The “Woonsocket Ripper”

In 2003 and 2004, three women who were prostitutes were murdered by a brutal serial killer in Woonsocket.1 Jeffrey S. Mailhot, the killer, was also known as “the Rhode Island Ripper” and the “Calhot Killer.” An employee at the Dollhouse (formerly K2U) strip club in Woonsocket said he was a regular patron, coming in twice a week. He maintained the appearance 2 of an average guy. Photo by Steve Szydlowski

1 Needham, Cynthia. “Court hears how Mailhot dismembered 3 women.,” P rovidence J ournal. 16 February 2006. 2 “Forensics key in convicting Woonsocket serial killer.” 3 June 2006. Serial Killer News. http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkiller_news/M/MAILHOT_jeffrey_s.php. Citizens Against Trafficking | http://www.citizensagainsttrafficking.org 1

Citizens Against Trafficking October 17, 2009

He strangled three women at his Woonsocket apartment. He then dismembered them with a handsaw and stuffed their body parts in garbage bags and disposed of them in trash bins around Woonsocket. The bodies of two missing women were never found.

Victims of the Woonsocket Serial Killer

Audrey Harris, 33 Christine Dumont, 42 Stacie Goulet, 25

He also assaulted two other women. In 2006, Mailhot was sentenced to the equivalent of two life sentences for three murders, plus another 10 years for two assaults.

The “ Killer” in Warwick

Phillip Markoff, a “preppy” medical student most widely known for allegedly shooting and killing a prostitute in is also accused of trying to rob another prostitute in Rhode Island.

He is accused of shooting Julissa Brisman in the Boston Marriot when she resisted his attempt to tie her up and rob her. He cut the phone line in the room and left her tied to the doorknob of the bathroom.

Markoff is thought to have started his crime spree by robbing and AP Photo sexually assaulting Trisha Leffler, a prostitute, in another Boston hotel. He is accused of assaulting and attempting to rob a Rhode Island stripper two days later. “Amber” worked at the Cadillac Lounge in Providence.3 Shortly after Markoff tied her up, “Amber’s” husband—and likely pimp—who had been waiting in the hotel lobby, interrupted the assault. Police found dozens of women’s panties in his apartment, which were likely

3“Seven Days of Rage: The Craigslist Killer.” CBS: 48 Hours. September 19, 2009. Citizens Against Trafficking | http://www.citizensagainsttrafficking.org 2

Citizens Against Trafficking October 17, 2009

“souvenirs” from previous victims.4 They also found a gun, duct tape, and plastic restraints.5 Markoff used the name “sexaddict5385” on Alt.com, a personals site where he corresponded about homosexual sadomasochism.

“Cranston Asian Boyz” gang member stabbed a man under Asian spa-brothel

A member of the Cranston Asian Boyz gang, Narin Kheng, is accused of stabbing a man to death outside Club Hell in 2008.6 Kheng has a lengthy criminal history including multiple counts of arson, conspiracy, assault with intent to murder, robbery, weapons charges, and dozens of misdemeanors. He went by the nickname “Trip.”7

Club Hell is located directly underneath Spa 81, a spa-brothel Photo by Kathy Borchers that has been there since 2007, when it was registered as QQ Spa.

Gang member Anthony “Bundi” Parrish fatally shot near Providence spa-brothel

December 14, 2008, a member of a gang, Dana Gallop, shot Anthony Parrish, a member of the Wainwright Street gang outside Club Passion, near Spa 81, a brothel.8 A stray bullet hit an innocent bystander, perforating his small intestine.

Gunman opened fire in Providence strip club, shooting three.

In March 2009, a Rhode Island grand jury indicted Johnathan Quaweay for shooting four people in the Sportman’s Inn, a Providence strip club and known venue for prostitution. Quaweay has a long criminal history, including 14 arrests in the past 14 years.9 Quaweay’s girlfriend

4 Ford, Beverly. “Suspected ‘Craigslist Killer’ Phillip Markoff charged with assault of stripper in Rhode Island.” . 4 May 2009. 5 O’Shaughnessy, Patrice. “Craigslist killer Philip Markoff and victim Julissa Brissman led secret lives.” New Yor k Daily News. 26 April 2009. 6 Krause, Nancy. “Fatal stabbing suspects face judge.” 7 Pina, Alisha A. “Stabbing is Providence’s 12th homicide this year.” P rovidence J ournal. 7 December 2008. 8 Smith, Greg. “Suspect nabbed in fatal shooting outside Providence club.” P rovidence J ournal. 23 December 2008. 9 Malinowski, W. Zachary. “Suspect in shooting at strip club has long record.” P rovidence J ournal. 26 March 2009.

Citizens Against Trafficking | http://www.citizensagainsttrafficking.org 3

Citizens Against Trafficking October 17, 2009

was a stripper at Sportman’s Inn. After taking her to a hotel, he returned to the club and allegedly shot a dancer, two patrons, and the bartender. He fled and was later captured in Atlanta on July 1, 2009 after he was featured on America’s Most Wanted. 10 In another incident, a man was shot outside the Sportsman’s Inn strip club in 2006.11

Pimp tortured and killed prostitute’s child

Troy Figgs, charged with murder, pandering, and conspiracy was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 60 years in prison for killing the baby of a woman he pressured into prostitution. On July 31, 2005, Figgs sent her out to earn money. She left her son, who had just turned 2, with Figgs and another man. Figgs and his roommate Akeem King, “battered [the boy] like a punching bag and tossed [him] like a football...causing injuries so severe that his brain shifted inside his Photo by John Freidah skull and left bruises that bled down to the bone,” according to Assistant Attorney General Scott Erickson.12

South Providence man assaulted Boston teen

A 16-year-old Boston girl, who had been missing for several months, was found “incoherent and bleeding” by a patrolman in South Providence in June 2009. She told the officer her 40 year old “boyfriend”—and likely pimp---Michael Barton had punched her and taken off.13 Barton allegedly forced her to work as a stripper at Cheaters strip club to earn money for him. The medical rescue crew reported that the girl had a purse full of condoms, indicating that she was likely being used in prostitution. Cheaters is known for ruthless competition between strippers and a heavy pimp presence.14

Escort assaulted

In May 2009, a North Providence lawyer working as a prostitute reported that she was brutally assaulted by William V. Lapierre at knife point. The woman went to Lapierre’s apartment.

10 Bramson, Kate. “Providence strip club shooting suspect arrested in Georgia.” P rovidence J ournal. 1 July 2009. 11 “Man shot outside strip club.” P rovidence J ournal. 13 November 2006. 12 Milkovitz, Amanda. “Murder trial opens in killing of toddler.” 13 Milkovitz, Amanda. “Missing Boston teen found in South Providence.” P rovidence J ournal. 20 June 2009. 14 Shapiro, Melanie. “Prostitution at the Strip Clubs.” Citizens Against Trafficking. 7 August 2009. Citizens Against Trafficking | http://www.citizensagainsttrafficking.org 4

Citizens Against Trafficking October 17, 2009

He allegedly held an eight inch knife to her throat and tried to rob her. She sprayed chemicals in his eyes and fought him off as he tried to stab her.15 Lapierre has a lengthy record of assault, drug, weapon, and other charges dating back to 1993.

Violent Crimes Associated with the Sex Industry These are just some of the recent major crimes in the news associated with the sex industry in Rhode Island. Violent crimes, ranging from assault to murder, regularly occur in or around sex industry localities. According to the police, five of the 13 homicides in 2008 were associated directly or indirectly with nightclubbing. Some Rhode Island strip clubs and spa-brothels operate in close proximity to the night clubs.

The sex industry is a magnet for criminal activity. The violent crime associated with prostitution and trafficking puts all of our citizens and neighborhoods at risk. Rhode Island needs to enact strong laws against prostitution, pimping and human trafficking.

15 Sardelli, Melissa. “Lawyer attacked while working as escort.” WP R I E yewitness News. 5 May 2009. Citizens Against Trafficking | http://www.citizensagainsttrafficking.org 5