Two pimps, a father and son team, were acquitted of sex trafficking after several prostitutes testified on their behalf. Though they were found innocent of those charges in Manhattan Supreme Court, Vincent George Sr. and Jr. were found guilty of money laundering and promoting prostitution as part of the same case.
The trial, overseen by Judge Ruth Pickholz, reportedly hinged on the testimony of several prostitutes involved with the George family’s operation. Prosecutors argued that the women were victims of psychological abuse at the hands of the father and son, but the women that testified described themselves as part of a happy and loving family unit.
When it became clear that the sex trafficking charges would be difficult to prove, prosecutors with the Manhattan D.A.’s office focused on the money laundering and promoting prostitution charges in order to get the Georges convicted. The sex trafficking charges were the most serious charges faced by the father and son, but prosecutors still considered the conviction on the lesser charges a success.
“The case was obviously a tough case,” Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said in an interview with Reuters shortly after the verdict. “The bottom line is, the goal of this investigation has been achieved.”
However, the George’s attorney, Howard Greenberg, also claimed a victory, saying that he “rebuked” the district attorney’s office. Discussing the sex trafficking charges and the testimony of the women, he said, “If this is what these women signed up for, who is anybody to tell them differently?”
Reuters reports that the prosecution of this case is representative of a new way of prosecuting sex trafficking cases in that the pimps and customers are being prosecuted and the prostitutes are being treated like victims rather than criminals.
The Georges are currently awaiting sentencing and face up to 15 years in prison for their crimes.