PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A 75-year-old man who authorities say promoted prostitution at his Portland strip clubs has pleaded guilty to federal charges, but is expected to be out of prison by the end of the month.
Lawrence Owen pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service and conspiring to use an interstate facility to promote prostitution.
U.S. District Judge Michael Simon sentenced Owen to 2 { years in prison. Owen has been behind bars since he was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border more than two years ago. With credit for time served, he is expected to be free in two weeks.
Owen operated more than a dozen adult-themed businesses, mostly strip clubs. Prosecutors say they served as fronts for a sprawling prostitution ring.
Defense attorney Noel Grefenson sought a lenient sentence, saying his client is in poor health and wants to be with his 7-year-old daughter.
Of concern. But I also don't feel we have real insight into this. How did this prostitution ring work, and how much do the authorities really know about it. And notice this is being resolved by a guilty plea, not a jury trial. Still comes across as completely opaque to me. More concerned about LE and what is really motivating it.
SJG