More Information on the largest prostitution organization uncovered in Arizona

A three-state effort has resulted in the largest prostitution organization uncovered in Arizona, according to investigators.

The Phoenix Police Department made the first arrests Monday in the investigation of the nationwide prostitution ring with links to the Valley.

On July 24th, a Maricopa County grand jury handed up a 17-count indictment naming 55 defendants. On August 4th and 5th, police began making the series of arrests.

Officers said they first received a tip of a prostitution business in August 2007 and discovered an organization, run by Paul Nichta, called "Night Entertainment Partners."

Police said another key player in the prostitution ring was Dr. Ross Levatter, a well-known radiology specialist. Levatter is on the hospital board of directors at a Valley hospital.

Nichta allegedly made bank deposits of $250,000 a month using a series of escort service businesses as a front for prostitution. Those businesses included:

- Desert Divas LLC
- Night Partners Entertainment
- NPE Management Services
- Hips Touring LLC
- Escorts in Action
- AZ Confidential
- Desert Divas New Mexico

According to Phoenix police, most of the companies were registered with the City of Phoenix or the Arizona Corporation Commission. The operation also included a pornographic website which showed "Escort Reviews."

Officers said Nichta would hold "meet and greets" at Valley restaurants every week so that prospective customers could meet the escorts in person.

Nichta recruited the escorts through ads in the New Times and websites promising escorts incomes of up to $30,000 a month, according to officials.

Two former escorts told police they made about $2,000 a night but could also earn an additional $15,000 a night in tips. More than 100 people, mostly prostitutes, were believed to be involved in the ring.

The organization filmed pornographic acts with the prostitutes, according to the investigators, and made them available for viewing through the Internet to hundreds of customers, or "johns", who ordered the service through their various websites.

The investigation had connections to Philadelphia and Albuquerque, however the majority of the organization's activities were conducted in the Valley. Philadelphia detectives arrested one suspect in this case.

Albuquerque detectives conducted a search warrant on the organization's office, "Desert Divas New Mexico", in Albuquerque Sunday and arrested numerous suspects, including 41-year-old James Bays.

In nine search warrants conducted throughout the Valley Monday, authorities said three residences were seized, at least eight vehicles and one motorcycle were taken, and financial seizures were made.

Six rifles, 12 handguns, and two silencers were taken from Nichta's Paradise Valley residence. Some of the prostitutes were also arrested and more arrests were expected in the weeks to come. Officials said there are 'big names' linked to the ring, but those names have not yet been released.

Nine of the top members of the organization have already been arrested and face charges of 'conspiracy to control an illegal enterprise', 'illegal control of an enterprise', 'money laundering', 'operating a house of prostitution', 'employee at a house of prostitution', 'pandering, receiving the earnings of a prostitute', 'use of a wire or electronic communication', and 'prostitution'.

Key suspects arrested include:

Paul Nichta, 32; Dr. Ross Levatter, 53; Scott Eder, 35; Peter Shifman, 56; Billi Mayfield, 19; Adam Beech, 25; Charles Sanders, 29; Louis Sterling, 55; William Ferretti, 65; and Chloe Magouliotis, 23.

The following residences were included in Monday's seizures:

6839 E. Sunnyvale, Paradise Valley
4043 E. Woodstock Road, Cave Creek
3003 E. Camellia Drive, Gilbert

The following vehicles were among those seized in Monday:

2007 Ferrari 43C CP
2006 Lotus EXI CP
2008 Mercedes SL55 RD
2007 Chevy Tahoe 4DSW
2004 Chevy Avalanche 12 PU
2008 BMW
2005 Hummer SUT
2007 Triumph motorcycle

The Phoenix Police Department said they worked with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, the Scottsdale Police Department, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the Mesa Police Department, the Philadelphia Police Department's Vice Unit, and the Albuquerque Police Department's Vice unit during this investigation.

When addressing the investigation on Tuesday, County Attorney Andrew Thomas said, "Our office will work to protect the citizens and neighborhoods of this county from criminal exploitation. We appreciate the excellent work of the Phoenix police detectives who investigated these offenses."

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said, "These are not victimless crimes. On the most basic level, those involved in prostitution, and the family members who love them, are neglected or worse. And the money generated from these illegal ventures helps fund other criminal enterprises such as drug and smuggling operations. This is a good use of resources and I thank the County Attorney and the Phoenix Police Department for working together to make this a better community."

Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris said, "I would like to commend the men and women of the Vice Enforcement Unit of the Phoenix Police Department, as well as the other agencies that have assisted us, for the many hours they have spent and will spend during the course of this investigation."

Harris continued, "This investigation successfully targeted a large scale, sophisticated organization dealing in prostitution and pornography, which are often referred to as "victimless crimes". However, our experience has shown us that these crimes have far reaching consequences on our community. That is why the Phoenix Police Department is committed to fighting these types of crimes."