July 22, 11:22 AM Detroit Legal News ExaminerMargaret Lucas Agius
The Departments of Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security announced Wednesday that authorities arrested four Florida residents on a six-count indictment charging conspiracy to coerce and entice acts of prostitution, coercion and enticement of prostitution in the Eastern District of Michigan, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Authorities arrested a fifth individual on a complaint alleging conspiracy to commit money laundering.
U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade, FBI Special Agent in Charge Andrew L. Arena, IRS Special Agent in Charge Maurice Aouate and ICE Special Agent in Charge Brian Moskowitz made the announcement.
The defendants included in the indictments are Gregory Carr (a.k.a. Paul Cutlass), 43, Laurie Carr, 39, Nayubet Loani Swaso, 24, Michelle Matarazzo, 36 and Fabiola Contreras, 33.
Miami Companions, a large multi-state prostitution organization, sent prostitutes to Detroit area hotels for approximately eight years. Authorities allege that the Carrs owned and operated Miami Companions since 2001; Matarazzo served as the Miami Companions office manager; Swaso managed the overseas call center used to coordinate prostitutes’ travel and client calls; and Contreras owned bank accounts into which proceeds of prostitution were deposited and assisted in managing the organization.
Authorities further believe the Carrs laundered more than $4 million in proceeds from the prostitution organization in order to conceal their illegal activities and transferred millions of dollars to overseas bank accounts in order to promote the prostitution organization.
Authorities arrested the defendants on Wednesday, July 21, in the Miami area, with the exception of Swaso, whom authorities arrested in Pittsburgh area. Defendants will appear in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on August 11.