Youngsville raid possibly linked to online escort service
The WRAL Investigates team has uncovered new information about a raid this week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security into a Franklin County company. That company has ties to one of the country's largest online escort services based on a review of documents and online information conducted by WRAL News.
Posted — UpdatedFederal officials descended on Bolma Star Services, located in Youngsville on Flex Way, on Tuesday and worked into the night, removing boxes, boxes of evidence and computer equipment as part of a search warrant. Federal officials have not publicly commented on the investigation but a Wake Forest man and multiple companies are connected to Bolma Star Services and a major online escort service.
Authorities have not said what crimes they suspect may have occurred.
The company was established in North Carolina in February last year and bills itself as a "customer service and content moderation consulting group." It also runs a call center.
Since the raid earlier this week, all online websites and social media sites associated with the company were scrubbed.
Investigations headed up by Homeland Security usually involve cases like cross-border criminal activity and include financial crimes, cyber crimes and human trafficking. Greg Huling, the president of the company, has ties to BBH Media and Darkside Productions, which originated in California.
Corporate filings in California and in North Carolina, along with a search of international website registrations, job postings and civil lawsuits all point to Eros.com and ErosGuide.com, the same site that has adult content. The site is an online escort service, including one that covers the Carolinas.
In many of the ads, the women are partially clothed and their rates are listed -- some in dollars, although one woman listed her price in roses. WRAL News found an ad that stated that payment was for time and professional companionship and not an offer for anything explicit or illegal.
However, some links on the site clearly advertise sex for sale. And investigators have many dots to connect.
WRAL News reached out to the president of Bolma Star Services, but we have not heard back from him.
Raids involving online escort services are almost unheard of- and usually happen when other crimes have taken part.
The first federal conviction of a website operator for prostitution took place back in 2014 and involved a California-based website called myRedbook.com. The operator of that website was initially also charged with money laundering but reached a plea deal and paid a large fine to resolve the case.
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