The Physics Professor was an Internet Pimp
Former University of New Mexico President F. Chris Garcia was arrested and jailed Thursday in connection with a multistate, online prostitution ring that authorities say was run by a physics professor from New Jersey.
Police said Garcia, 71, and Fairleigh Dickinson professor David Flory, 68, were among seven members of the top echelon of the ring. Six have been arrested, and warrants have been issued for one more, Albuquerque police Chief Ray Schultz said.
Investigators said the ring had some 1,400 members, including 200 prostitutes, but there was no indication that any other universities or students were involved.
“At this point it looks purely coincidental” that two of the top members were academics, police Lt. William Roseman said.
Schultz emphasized the investigation had just started and that human trafficking and racketeering charges were possible.
Members of the site paid anywhere from $200 for a sex act to $1,000 for a full hour of time, Roseman said.
Garcia was part of the “hunt club,” whose job was to look for new prostitutes for the site known as Southwest Companion, police said, declining to release a range of ages for the women.