Prison time for some Desert Divas workers

A Gilbert man who was an accountant for an Internet-based prostitution operation has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Peter Shifman also got seven years of probation and was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine when he was sentenced Thursday in Maricopa County Superior Court.

The 57-year-old entered into a plea agreement in the case on April 15.

He pleaded guilty to money laundering, illegal control of an enterprise and the use of a wire or electronic communication in facilitating the crimes, for his involvement in the Desert Divas Escort Services probe investigated by the Phoenix police.

Authorities say more than 100 prostitutes were involved and the business generated $250,000 a month in revenue.

He is also listed as the "Executive Director "of the following website:
http://www.mantacorpusa.com/about_us.html

Recently: Head of Desert Divas prostitution ring pleads guilty

The County Attorney’s office announce that they head of the prostitution ring, Paul Nichta, has plead guilty to a variety of charges.

Police charge that Nichta was head of the umbrella organization that was providing prostitutes through numerous websites with titles such as “Desert Divas”, “Az Confidential”, “Hips Tours”, and “Escorts in Action”.

Nichta faces two-and-a-half years in prison when he is sentenced on June 25.

Five other people involved in the ring also plead guilty. Those include accountant Peter Shifman, Manager Scotts Eder, Manager Shelia Bucalo, Manager Sean Carter, part Owner and Photographer Adam Beech and Investor and VIP customer Dr. Ross Levatter.

VIP customers Louis Stirling and William Ferretti also plead guilty to attempted pandering.

The investigation is still underway and additional charges are possible.

According to the County Attorney’s office later developments in the case against Nichta led to the arrest of David Elms, the operator of the Erotic Review website. Elms is accused of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault in a case not related to the Desert Divas investigation. There is a warrant out for Elm’s arrest. He fled after posting $150,000 bond.

The prostitution ring was busted back in August of 2008.

Desert Divas' prostitution story continued from below story

"This case is beyond prostitution," Thomas said. "This was a major criminal syndicate that allegedly made millions of dollars."

Those accused of prostitution are:

Melissa Ann Haden, 25 Mindy Allison Haden, 25 Michelle Ann Keithley, 38 Tania Marie Koyanagi, 24 Jillian Lybarger, 24 Julissa Varela Flores, 24 Diane Savannah Hasse, 21 Leslie Ann Wolf, 21 Ashley Marie Kutka, 24 Cynthia Matthews, 27 Emily Jean Boyd, 24

The Desert Divas operation was the largest prostitution bust in Arizona history, investigators said. Not only did detectives make dozens of arrests, they also seized cash, drugs and weapons.