Police bust alleged prostitution ring

BURBANK — Police detectives arrested two Northern California women on Thursday, who they suspect are part of an Internet prostitution ring that used a Burbank hotel in their operation.

Fremont resident Jessica Gonzales and Fairfield resident Raeanna Valencia, who are both 19, were arrested following an investigation into online advertisements offering escort and massage services throughout the San Fernando Valley, including Burbank, said Burbank Police Sgt. Matthew Ferguson.

Posing as interested customers, detectives arranged to meet with the suspects at a hotel near the airport, he said.

"The Vice and Narcotics Bureau conducted an investigation and made contact with the suspects, who then suggested they meet at a local Burbank hotel," he said. "And the investigation continued with the meeting actually occurring and the two individuals subsequently being arrested for prostitution."

The hotel is located in northwest Burbank near the airport, but the Police Department would not disclose the name.

"Hotel [management] had no idea that this was going on and were cooperative," Ferguson said. "We saw no wrongdoing by the hotel."

The Police Department was tipped off by a source who led officers to postings on an Internet bulletin board, which specified that the services were offered in the Burbank area, Ferguson said. The women did not operate out of Burbank, but used the hotel location as a meeting place, he added.

Burbank Police will continue to monitor online bulletin boards for illegal activity, he said.

Craigslist.org, which was not implicated in the Burbank case, is a popular online classified site with posts for employment, dating, items for sale and other services, including an "erotic" services category.

All illegal activity is banned from the site by its terms of use, said Susan MacTavish, who does public relations for craigslist.

The site is community-moderated, meaning that users flag material they find to be objectionable or illegal.

Some local residents were not surprised that a prostitution operation was using Burbank as a meeting point.

"My honest reaction is given Burbank's history with the entertainment industry, really, prostitution is not something unheard of in Burbank," long-time resident David Piroli said. "I'm honestly not that shocked at all."