State News
Alleged Charlotte Prostitution Ring Had Raleigh Clients
The FBI says that a prostitution operation operated in Charlotte and catered to affluent clients there and ones from Raleigh.
Posted — UpdatedCHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three people charged with running a prostitution ring that catered to affluent clients in the Charlotte area also had clients from Raleigh, according to a 10-page complaint filed in federal court last week.
Glenn Alvin Fox, of Taylorsville, and Donald Verdery Saxon, 52, and Sallie Wamsley Saxon, 57, of Charlotte, were charged with coercing women to cross state lines to engage in prostitution.
A sworn statement by FBI Agent David Drew said Sallie Saxon, also known as Sallie Wamsley, arranged for women to travel from Canada, Asia, Brazil and major U.S. cities. Drew said in his statement that the alleged ring was connected to a Web site for an escort service.
The site advertises a secret club "not available to the public."
Clients paid as much as $4,000 for an overnight stay to $10,000 for a weekend, according to the complaint. No names are listed, only initials.
Donald Saxon allegedly picked up money from the prostitutes, including a woman identified as CS1 in the documents, who cooperated with the FBI. She said she made about $160,000 last year after paying 30 percent to Sallie Saxon.
The woman went to the FBI after she was paid an advance fee of $2,150 to perform a sexual act for a client, but refused to do it and couldn't repay the money, the statement said. The FBI repaid the fee.
The woman also told the FBI she was scheduled for two weeks of work at a time and saw an average of two clients a day, according to the statement.
The FBI complaint said Fox, 58, was paid $32,000 last year for taking nude photos of the women.
Fox was released on bond. No one at his photo studio would comment on the case Wednesday.
Sallie Saxon was denied bond Thursday morning, while Donald Saxon was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond. He was placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring and was barred from using computers.
A judge also approved the FBI's request to seize the Saxons' home on the grounds it was involved in a conspiracy to launder money.
Attorney Pete Anderson said his firm represents Donald Saxon, who has no prior criminal record "and obviously is presumed innocent."
Local authorities had received tips about a prostitution ring catering to affluent clients as far back as 2000.
• Credits
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