Arizona authorities say a six-month investigation has resulted in the arrest and indictment of 18 people connected to the Phoenix Goddess Temple, where undercover investigators say they found workers performing sex acts in exchange for money.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said that among the individuals arrested were men and women ‘practitioners’ and Goddess Temple founder Tracy Elise.
She faces charges of prostitution, illegal control of an enterprise, pandering, and operating a house of prostitution. Provocative: A September 5 ad in the ‘adult entertainment’ section of classified ads website Backpage.com features Phoenix Temple Goddess Iyata
Others named in the indictment face charges including conspiracy, working in a house of prostitution Leader: Goddess Temple founder Tracy Elise was among 18 individuals arrested on Wednesday after the raid and massaging without a license.
Arizona prosecutors have charged more than 30 people affiliated with the institution which they say had been operating under the pretence of providing ‘religious’ services for hundreds of dollars in cash ‘donations’ since it began operations in 2009. Police raided the 10,000-square-foot property on Wednesday, arresting 18 people. They are still hunting down the other 19. ABC News reports that four of those indicted are men, but none of them are johns. Charges include prostitution, pandering and conspiracy
Accused: Others named in the indictment face charges including conspiracy, working in a house of prostitution and massaging without a license
Phoenix police spokesman Steve Martos told the network: ‘They were committing crimes under the guise of religious freedom. It’s a sad situation when people are trying to hide behind religion and church to commit a crime.’
Martos said police obtained a search warrant after several undercover operations determined ‘practitioners’ were trained to use ‘evasive vocabulary’. ‘For example, “johns” were called “seekers” and sexual intercourse was called “sacred union”.
A statement on the organization’s website, which has been taken down, describe the Goddess Temple’s services as ‘body centric’
Alleged brothel: Police raided the 10,000-square-foot Goddess Temple on Wednesday, arresting 18 people. They are still hunting down the other 19
Secretive: The Goddess Temple had been in operation since 2009 and had been subject to speculation it was a secret sex club
Authorities were tipped off by residents, who had complained for years the temple was operating as a secret sex club. A local newspaper followed the story, prompting police to launch the investigation that led to Wednesday’s bust.
Police say another alleged brothel in Sedona, Arizona connected to the Goddess Temple was also raided on Wednesday. Founder Tracy Elise was reportedly involved with a similar alleged brothel in Seattle, Washington shut down in 2009.
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