New York tour operator is accused of promoting prostitution on trips to Thailand

samsung1
Ohio
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — A New York man who runs a travel company specializing in trips to Thailand and the Philippines has been charged with promoting prostitution.

The Westchester County district attorney said Monday that 66-year-old Douglas Allen, of Poughkeepsie, was arrested in a sting.

An online investigator pretended that he wanted to use Allen's company, Big Apple Oriental Tours, to go overseas and have sex for money. The district attorney's office said the investigator paid Allen $2,500.

Allen allegedly told the investigator he would be taken to Angeles City in the Philippines, where he could negotiate with women for sex acts.

A call to Legal Aid, which is representing Allen, was not immediately returned. If convicted, he faces to up to seven years in prison.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/…

10 comments

Latest

Prim0
14 years ago
Why is that illegal? Prostitution is legal where he traveled to right? (I'm guessing). Is it just the fact that he mentioned that he was looking to pay for play? I don't get it. Would this apply to someone who wanted to go to Amsterdam to try out the Red Light District or wanted to go to one of those resorts in the DR? What about someone who wanted to go to Canada to see an escort? Why are we bound by US laws outside the US...someone explain this to me.
GSWx4
14 years ago
PrimO: Prostitution is illegal in the Philippines.
vincemichaels
14 years ago
Damn, and all these Phillipinas that keep hitting on me just want me to give them money. LOL, what a bunch of . . . . .
Prim0
14 years ago
GSWx4...well I didn't know that. But if the guy does go over there and commits a crime against Philippino law, what does that have to do with the US? Do US laws apply to citizens while we travel abroad? (I don't know, I don't get out much). And would everyone involved in getting the guy over to the Philippines get in trouble (Taxis, Airlines....)? Maybe they're looking at the travel agent like a pimp or something.
GSWx4
14 years ago
"Do US laws apply to citizens while we travel abroad?" Unfortunately as of a few years ago yes. Started as an anti-sex trafficking thing and how it's justified I can't say. As for your article, it's not clear but it sounds like the guy charged committed his "crime" in NYC.
Dudester
14 years ago
Recently, a poster here said he was looking for a tour agency to get pussy in Asia. I warned him to be careful. A TUSCL'er said "that's only if you wanna fuck kids".

Nope-applies to adult women too. We've entered the era of the nanny state, so,

If you wanna get laid overseas:

1) Don't advertise the fact, in fact, tell no one.

2) Book your trip by yourself, preferably online, as if you're a regular tourist.

3) If you go to Asia, don't just go to Manila and come back. Go to several countries, make sure you see some tourist sites.

4) For God's sake, don't record your sexual exploits on your computer, camcorder, camera, etc. You never know when you'll be pulled aside for a random check. There's a good chance that you won't be pulled aside for a check, but you never know.
how
14 years ago
So, Dudester, reading your tip #3, it would seem that someone going to Manila for some legitimate purpose should add travel destinations just to avoid the potential flight-of-fancy some busy-body might undertake? I've never been to the Philippines, but surely there are legitimate reasons to go there? Why should unfounded suspicion drive people's behavior?
Prim0
14 years ago
Good video series on Thailand trips here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXQp0BVjg…
MisterGuy
14 years ago
"Prostitution is legal where he traveled to right?"

Nope. In Thailand, prostitution, brothels, and pimping are all technically illegal, but these kinds of practices are generally accepted & tolerated there as prostitution goes on in brothels, "girlie bars", and massage parlors. In the Philippines, while prostitution, brothels, and pimping are also all technically illegal...so-called "bar girls" there must register & have health checks.

"Would this apply to someone who wanted to go to Amsterdam to try out the Red Light District or wanted to go to one of those resorts in the DR? What about someone who wanted to go to Canada to see an escort?"

Well, in the Netherlands prostitution is legal since the year 2000, as are brothels & pimping. In the Dominican Republic, prostitution is legal, but brothels & pimping aren't...but the govt. usually doesn't enforce it's prostitution-related laws. As we've been over before at length elsewhere, in Canada prostitution is technically legal, but solicitation in public places, brothels, and pimping are illegal...for now.

Whenever I've been to Canada, I've always been honest with the border patrol(s) about where I was going (if I was just going to a particular strip club), and it's never been a problem for me. However, I've never gone into the dirty details of what goes on in those places...not the the authorities are always clueless about that kid of stuff.
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"So, Dudester, reading your tip #3, it would seem that someone going to Manila for some legitimate purpose should add travel destinations just to avoid the potential flight-of-fancy some busy-body might undertake? I've never been to the Philippines, but surely there are legitimate reasons to go there? Why should unfounded suspicion drive people's behavior?"

It shouldn't. Just ignore Dudster...he's a proven idiot.
sanitago
14 years ago
samsung1,
sounds like someone in the DA's office is looking to generate some publicity to me. you have to admit, "busting" a travel agency that "specializes" in "sex tourism" makes for a great headline. mind you, I have trouble seeing how just telling someone they can go to some place like Angels City to negotiate with women for sex can be construed as "promoting prostitution". bet that's one they're going to have fun with before a jury.
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