Melbourne Defense Lawyer Accused of Running Prostitution Ring
“A 71-year-old criminal defense lawyer in Melbourne, Florida, was arrested Saturday for allegedly using his legal practice to recruit clients into a prostitution ring that he ran out of his home,” report Law.com, the Orlando Sentinel, the Miami Herald and WESH.
“The lawyer, John Gillespie, was arrested in a sting operation.”
Gillespie ran unsuccessfully to be the Orange-Osceola public defender as a Republican in 2004.’
The Orlando Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation cited evidence that Gillespie ‘would initiate women he represented on criminal charges into prostitution or exchange sex acts for legal fees.'”
“The agency began investigating after a former law firm employee said she had helped Gillespie recruit women and girls into sex trafficking, according to an arrest warrant cited by the Orlando Sentinel.”