The Mann act

Has the Mann act been enforced in recent times? On occasion I have taken a provider to Bossier City for several days. A cop friend of mine advised me to be careful.
Unique_Carpenter's Avatar
Is a 2015 case that was still in the courts spring 2016 current enough?
Whatever the Federal district is that covers Waco, TX had that.
I think it was based on arranging Texas to Louisiana travel (and a bunch of other stuff).
Note that this appeared to be a multi person trafficking/promoting thing that leo was actively hunting and collecting data on over a bit of time.
ShysterJon's Avatar
This case?

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/courts_...992bf392f.html

"Officials said he agreed to transport and oversee women working as prostitutes at various truck stops in exchange for a percentage of the money they earned...."

He was sentenced to federal prison under the Mann Act. Later, he was also sentenced to state prison for compelling prostitution:

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/courts_...c4e58a29f.html

I think it's highly unlikely the cops would use scarce resources to build a Mann Act case against one hobbyist transporting one provider over a state line for purposes of prostitution.

There was a discussion of the Mann Act in the following thread, although I think the OP isn't a lawyer but posed as one:

http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?...light=mann+act
My cop friend was laughing his ass off when he mentioned it. The lady that went with me met him for lunch. He didn't say any thing in front of her but mentioned it to me in a phone call a week later.
ShysterJon's Avatar
Well, there you go. I think your cop friend was kidding. And maybe also trying to impress you that he knows about the Mann Act.
Unique_Carpenter's Avatar
Jon,
Actually this one.
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/courts_...b621424ff.html

Tucson,
Jon could be correct, about your friend kidding or trying to impress you.
I think he was teasing you mercilessly, as he did meet the gal.
What else would friends do to each other (of course gal friends prefer to play scrabble).

This all gets back to what will leo spend their time and funds on.
I work closely with several police departments as a ham radio operator. One afternoon I set a date with a provider setting beside a cop in his squad car. The next time I saw him he wanted to know if every thing worked out OK. I have an ID card hanging on my mirror for the police station because I work in the Emergency Operations Center. I had scheduled a date with a new provider and was to pick her up at her place. She spotted the ID card and took off running. It has gotten me out of several tickets.
Chung Tran's Avatar
I drove a Whore from D.C. into Virginia once, all of 2 miles.. afterward I was laughing internally, thinking I could be nailed on Mann charges.
As far as I can determine it is more of an ancient federal law that is not used unless they need it to pile on more charges for under age pimping. It is more interesting that Arlington has not charged any woman with prostitution. Now they use the SOB law like a ticket to collect a $388 fine
cckid2006's Avatar
Has the Mann act been enforced in recent times? On occasion I have taken a provider to Bossier City for several days. A cop friend of mine advised me to be careful. Originally Posted by tucson
We've never met, but have some mutual friends. While I always defer to Jon's judgement, here is an article that more directly answers your question:

http://blogs.findlaw.com/blotter/200...forcement.html
there were none of the other factors that traditionally weighed in favor of bringing charges, like the use of juvenile prostitutes, or commercial or other exploitation of them.
From the site you mention a quote from Mr Garcia the US Attorney for the Southern District of NY.
It appears the primary use of the Mann act is to strike out at those that prey on under age girls for the purpose of prostitution. I think the chances that I will or would be charged are slim. She was 36 and she offered to walk across the state line when we got there. I laughed when she offered to walk across the state line because she would have received a ticket for walking on an interstate high way.
It was used in the Spitzer case in NY against the escort service that he was using. I think Shyster Jon is right that you are going to see it used mainly against traffickers and pimps (especially involving minors), but technically, after the last amendment, it applies to anybody involved in transporting people across state lines for "any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense." (Damn - I guess that one trip to Costa Rica with my ATF definitely qualified - wait, maybe not, because in Costa Rica . . .)