Former Department of Agriculture Employee and Associate Indicted on Charges Involving an Online Prostitution Business

St. Louis, MO: A Kansas City man and his business associate, a former Department of Agriculture employee, have been indicted on conspiracy to commit money laundering and prostitution related charges involving an on-line prostitution business, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced today.

“It is always disappointing when Federal Government employees misuse Government resources. However, it is deeply disturbing when those resources are utilized to commit a crime and exploit women,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Michael W. Reap. According to the indictment, Laurie Lynn McConnell was employed by the United States Department of Agriculture in Kansas City, Missouri, as a statistician assigned to the USDA risk Management Agency from August 2003 until April 2008. The indictment alleges that McConnell and John Miller ran two on-line prostitution businesses called Darc Phoenix and USA Honies from her computer at USDA. They placed advertisements on numerous web sites and newspapers including the Riverfront Times and the Kansas City Pitch. McConnell and Miller hired women from Tennessee, St. Louis and Kansas City to work as prostitutes in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas.

John O. Miller, 36, of Kansas City, MO was indicted by a federal grand jury on one felony count of conspiracy to use the facilities of interstate commerce, such as cell phones and computers to promote prostitution and one felony count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Laurie Lynn McConnell, 26, also of Kansas City, MO, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one felony count of conspiracy to use the facilities of interstate commerce to promote prostitution, i.e. cell phones and computers, one felony count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one felony county of enticement.

The indictment was returned in early December, but remained sealed until the arrest of the defendants earlier today.

If convicted, each defendant faces a penalty range of five to 20 years in prison, and/or fines up to $500,000.

Hanaway commended the work on the case by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General in Kansas City, MO, and the Maryland Heights Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Howard J. Marcus is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.