The Public Safety Forum (SAFETY)

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Oooopps!

Inglewood officers alleged to have received sexual favors
By Andrew Blankstein, Ashley Surdin and Greg Krikorian, Times Staff Writers
2:21 PM PST, February 9, 2007


At least a half-dozen current or former Inglewood police officers are under investigation for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with female employees of massage parlors and other adult businesses that have been the target of a high-profile crackdown.

The inquiry began months after federal authorities launched an investigation into money laundering and prostitution involving women smuggled into Los Angeles from Asia. That probe, which resulted in money laundering, human smuggling and prostitution charges against more than two dozen people, led to allegations that Inglewood officers engaged in the sexual liaisons — both in uniform and in plainclothes — during work hours and off duty, according to local and federal sources familiar with the case.

Evidence seized by federal agents and local investigators included "very detailed ledgers'' that suggested Inglewood officers were receiving sexual favors at the businesses without paying, according to one source.

The ledgers, the source said, had the names of customers and the amounts they paid, except when the customers were police officers. In those cases, according to the source, the women entered a symbol in the ledger indicating that the customer was a police officer.

Word of the inquiry comes two months after the FBI confirmed that it was investigating two Inglewood police officers in connection with the alleged rape of a woman they stopped on suspicion of prostitution. The woman's attorney said this week he has filed a claim against the city and is awaiting an answer from authorities on whether the two officers have been arrested or criminally charged.

Councilman Ralph L. Franklin and other city officials would not disclose details of the investigation, but the councilman said the inquiry was aimed at determining whether the alleged sexual misconduct involved a large number of officers over an extended period of time.

Franklin also said the department was investigating to determine whether any ranking officers in the department were involved in "collusion'' with the officers suspected of sexual misconduct.

Numerous law enforcement officials and city leaders said Inglewood police's internal affairs unit is trying to determine whether any officers should face criminal charges.

To date, sources say, none of the officers have been fired, though some have retired or left the city for other departments.

The investigation began more than a year ago with several Inglewood massage parlors and tanning salons being investigated for alleged money laundering and prostitution. That led to the indictments of four people, including the alleged owner of the brothels, Kimberly Mao.

The search warrants served on four businesses in the Inglewood area were part of a larger criminal probe of a ring that allegedly smuggled Asian women into the U.S. to work as prostitutes.

Mao has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges and has repeatedly denied any involvement in prostitution or money laundering.

Three other sources said the allegations of sexual misconduct involving Inglewood police were first investigated months ago by authorities outside Inglewood, including officials with the U.S. attorney's office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Lt. Mark Fronterotta, who oversees the department's internal affairs division, said he would not discuss the investigation, citing confidential personnel matters.

"We have been conducting a sensitive and difficult investigation and we intend to carry it out as thoroughly and fairly as possible on behalf of everyone involved; the officers, the community, everyone,'' he said.


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-ex-inglewood9feb10,0,4864697.story?coll=la-home-headlines