What do you tell a friend who is about to get busted for prostitution?

[AzNick]

This girl I know has been doing what she thought she "had" to do to get by.

I have helped her financially a couple times, but no, not in this type of deal.

She ended up being paid counterfeit money and when she went to the bank to deposit it, guess what happened...

I just talked to her on the phone and she is scared to death, as the cops are on their way to investigate.

Ah, dear... And I did tell her multiple times to get out of this business.

[adamuu]

1. "Don't sign anything."

Don't answer any questions without a lawyer.

[thunder rising]

2. And you believed it? Oh my. "Pretty Woman" doesn't exist.

[Cerridwen]

3. Tell her not to talk without a lawyer present.

Nothing.

Not one word but her name.

There was a video on DU about this. Let me see if I can find it. Even asserting her innocence can get her in trouble.

If she can, have her watch the video and then have her LAWYER watch the video.

video first the lawyer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik

then a cop agrees and tells how he's gotten "confessions" from (sometimes) innocent statements during investigations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08fZQWjDVKE&feature=related

edit for links and a bit more info

[adamuu]

36. thanks very much. n/t

[Cerridwen]

38. You're welcome.

Though it looks as though it's too late.

[debbierlus]

4. Don't lecture her, help her get legal advice, and give her a hug

She doesn't need I told you so.

Be a friend. Help her in the way you would want to be helped.

[Midlodemocrat]

5. that she committed a crime and you should run screaming?

Holy crap. How fucking naive are you?

[debbierlus]

8. Wow. That's cold. She didn't murder someone!

Frankly, I think prostitution should be legal.

[Midlodemocrat]

11. Regardless. It isn't.

[debbierlus]

24. Still doesn't mean that you can't behave as a friend...

A real friend is there in times such as these.

[michreject]

55. Was she arrested for prostitution or funny money?

There is a difference. One's a Federal crime.

[AzNick]

23. Why should I run screaming, dude? She committed a MISDEMEANOR

In Arizona, it's a misdemeanor. Granted, more serious than driving too fast, but not as serious as running a red light.

You need to cool down, dude.

She is not the first person I know who at one time or another prostituted herself.

[Captain Hilts]

6. You don't get busted for passing counterfeit $ because we've all done it.

And the Feds know it's often impossible to recognize. If she tells who handed it to her, she'll be out.

[AzNick]

I told her to tell the truth

Because I also want her out of it. I also think they are 100 times more interesting in him than in her little "fuck for rent money" type of deal.

[EFerrari]

25. You should tell her not to talk to ANYONE

without a lawyer. What you want is your problem. Her problem is staying out of jail.

Edited for language.

[Captain Hilts]

27. In this case, that's the right thing to do. nt

[uncle ray]

45. then you should shut up and stop thinking.

because what you said was wrong, and so is your estimation of where a cops priorities are. cops don't go after "the real criminals", they bust the one sitting right in front of them.

i hope it went ok for your friend. i fear she may be the next funny internet story, like how once a year some potheads call the cops on someone who ripped them off, only to get hauled in themselves for seeds, stems and paraphernalia.

[ecstatic]

56. You can't be serious. She should say

she sold something on Craigslist or something and was given fake money.

[sandnsea]

7. If she can help them catch the counterfeiter

They will probably give her a break on the prostitution issue. She needs a lawyer but I don't know if she can get a public defender if she hasn't been charged. Do you live in a big city? There are some groups who try to help prostitutes get off the street. Maybe they would help her with a lawyer if she'd agree to help herself get out of that life. You are a good friend. :hug:

[xchrom]

9. lol! -- what she's gonna say it came from a John?!?

all this sounds made up to me.

[AzNick]

26. Unfortunately no

Because she tells me about the stuff she does and several times I talked her out of it.

This time she told me after the fact.

One day she'll get killed if she does not stop.

This economy is pushing people to the limit.

[xchrom]

31. don't tell me bout this biz -- been there and done that.

this is counterfeit money not about her.

[Lilith Velkor]

64. And you think going to jail will help her get a decent job?

Jeezus.

[Sebass1271]

10. Tell her to tell the truth. She needed the money, slept with

somoene and got paid fake $$.. however, she needs an atty first.

wait!, never mind i said that. tell her to shut up and ask for atty.

[adamuu]

12. i was gonna say!

[adamuu]

13. Practice repeating "I want a lawyer" with no intonation at all.

You're not under arrest.
"I want a lawyer"

We just want to ask you a few questions.
"I want a lawyer"

We want to help you get out of this.
"I want a lawyer"

We don't want to see you get in trouble, or go to jail.
"I want a lawyer"

Help us help you.
"I want a lawyer"

We can take care of you, go easy on you...
"I want a lawyer"

[Richard D]

14. Everything she says can and will be used against her . . .

. . . except what is stated above.

[bobbolink]

17. Unless she has money, she can't get a lawyer that easily.

She will have to be booked, plead, and then, if the stars are right, she will be assigned a public defender, if her income is under the right amount.

If any of those ifs don't line up... well, good luck... in the Land Of Liberty.

[AzNick]

30. If she had the money for an attorney she would not do that

She is not a high roller or a Scottsdale escort.

She is just a poor lost soul whose life sucks.

[bobbolink]

66. Uh, that's kinda the point, isn't it?

[Motown_Johnny]

19. She could pull an Antonio and just keep repeating that she does not recall

[deadmessengers]

28. The three rules for dealing with law enforcement.

1) Shut up.
2) Shut the fuck up.
3) Shut the fuck up right now.

[varelse]

54. Excellent advice

difficult to follow when you're terrified, but still sound advice.

[Hepburn]

63. +1,000!

[countmyvote4real]

15. Get a lawyer.

In the scheme of things counterfeiting trumps prostitution. I'm not saying the john is the counterfeiter, but he was distributing whether he knew it or not.

I guess that's her problem, too, but if she was involved in the counterfeit there is no reason in the world she would take it to a bank. And yes, I have received a single counterfeit $20 from an ATM, but that was years ago.

Oh dear, what denomination are we talking about? Hopefully, it's a numbered bill in circulation.(20, 50, 100, etc. vs 3, 75, ?) I'm not asking how much she attempted to deposit, but that will certainly be considered.

She should get a lawyer.

[Hoopla Phil]

16. She needs a lawyer! She cannot arrange contractual immunity without going

through a person that is an innocent third party. That has to be a lawyer.

[Motown_Johnny]

18. Move to Vegas????? I think (and hope) she will be OK. I doubt they send the vice squad to check on

counterfeit cash. As long as she does not say anything stupid she should be fine.

Also, she needs to stop using banks as much as possible.... assuming she does not move somewhere that her profession is legal.

[whathehell]

53. Prostitution is a shitty, high risk and demeaning "job"..In Vegas or anywhere

There are at least two studies that indicate that an overwhelming number of hookers(about 92 percent) were abused as children.

[Nikki Stone1]

20. That the Johns should also get busted with her: Name names!

I hate that prostitution is a crime that women get arrested for.

[elocs]

21. Choice/Consequences. Yes, the only words she should utter: "I want a lawyer".

If you are a suspect of any kind, the police are not your friend. I am finishing marathons of watching episode after episode of Law and Order: SVU and this is very clear.

[Schema Thing]

22. She doesn't have to characterize herself as a prostitute to the cops

to tell them where the money came from.

[RB TexLa]

29. All she has to say is she doesn't remember who gave her the bills

[AzNick]

32. She already said too much to the cops on the phone

And they were on their way when she called me, totally devastated.

[adamuu]

35. Alright. This is a long shot.

Does she happen to have have any helium, aluminum foil, and adhesive tape?

[AzNick]

44. She should hide in the attic?

No attic at her shitty apartment.

[ismnotwasm]

33. Get the best lawyer she can

If it's public defender, it's a public defender, I guess, some of them are OK. Tell her to fight tooth and nail until she has all the information she possible can about the charges and the evidence. No Alford plea bullshit either.

[Lyric]

34. Tell her to lawyer up and don't say a single word the police.

A good lawyer is gonna know right away that the cops will want a counterfeiter a HELL of a lot more than they want a prostitute. Any lawyer worth his/her degree would be able to get her immunity in exchange for testimony.

[Skittles]

37. tell her to not say ANYTHING and request a lawyer

let the lawyer do the talking

[lunasun]

39. why not lie?

Tell the cops she sold some family jewelry to him and she needed the $$
or stereo equipment whatever and he used bad cash
act pissed not afraid

[alittlelark]

40. That sounds like a good recipe for big-time trouble.

Cops Don't like being lied to. They are likely to forgive and ignore the prostiution - but not if they sense she is lying.


Say nothing. Always best when your actions COULD be cause for prosecution.

[Nay]

50. They are NOT going to ignore the prostitution--they'll bust her on

both, if they can. Get a lawyer and STFU, as everyone else here has said.

(Advice comes straight from experience.)

[vadawg]

74. bingo, im not going to go after her fro prostitution, but if she lies to me then i get the truth

different ball game... the counterfieter will trump a prostitute anyday of the week...

[Rincewind]

41. Lying to the police

during an investigation, is considered obstruction of justice. I have seen cases reported in my local newspaper where people have been sent to jail for giving a false name to the police. Now, in those cases, the people involved had records, but lying will get you in a lot more trouble with the police than just refusing to answer will.

[leanderj]

43. Yep. It's asymmetrical

The cops can lie to you (perfectly legal), but you cannot lie to the cops.

The logical conclusion is it's best to not give them a damn thing except your ID.

[ecstatic]

58. Police lie all the time. They can't prove she slept with the

guy and they can't prove that she didn't get the money from some other transaction gone wrong.

[Echo In Light]

65. Exactly

[michreject]

61. If one statement is a lie, they all are

To the jury.

[MissMarple]

42. Get an attorney, I'll stand by you. Don't talk to anyone except legal counsel.

And a big hug would not be out of bounds. And what adamuu said...."Don't sign anything!"...without legal counsel.

[Puzzler]

46. How is she going to get charged with prostitution?

Unless she confesses to being a prostitute to the cops.

[Puzzler]

47. I dunno about many US states...

... but in Canada, prostitution is not illegal... but the solicitation for the purposes of prostitution is. So in other words, you can't get busted for simply being a prostitute. Furthermore, the police would not go after you for prostitution after the fact, since they would have no hard evidence of solicitation... even if you got paid. For example, they can't prove that a cash for sex agreement was made, especially if the woman was working occasionally out of her home.

[asdjrocky]

48. Never talk to a cop. Ever.

It really is that simple.

[comrade snarky]

49. Don't lie but don't volunteer information either

The cops will want to know where the money came from. That's reasonable.

Payment for services. She did some work for him.

Could be anything, graphic design, seamstress or fence building. Leave it ambiguous, "some work". The cops will probably figure out what went on but chances are good they wont bother with her. What evidence is there of a crime? They might be able to out together a case if they try but that would be work.

Big time important thing, Don't Lie.

In big letters, DON'T LIE.

That will get her in more trouble because it will piss them off. Maybe enough to cause her problems. There may be trouble from this anyway, that's the risk of her line of work. At least that's the risk until we grow the hell up in this country.

[Frank Cannon]

51. The best way to keep from lying and avoid further problems...

is to do what so many others on this thread have said, don't say anything to the cops. She needs to get lawyered up and have the lawyer give the name of the guy she got the counterfeit bills from.

[izzybeans]

52. This sounds like what Acorn was set up with by those faux journalists.

Get a lawyer for her.

[malaise]

57. Tell her to call David Vitter and ask him how he

managed to have the cops leave him in peace.

[varelse]

59. They're probably more interested in tracking down the source of the counterfeit money

Prostitution is, as you say, a misdemeanor where you live. Counterfeiting is a federal felony.

http://money.howstuffworks.com/counterfeit6.htm

http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/money_detect.shtml

Doesn't change what she needs to do right now, but it might be useful to know why they probably will involve the Secret Service at some point.

[midnight]

60. Lots of problems for these workers would be solved if it was legalized.

Tell her to start lobbying her representatives.....

[Hepburn]

62. Best advice to her: Ask for a lawyer and STFU.

Don't lie and give the cops a story. She can refuse to talk ~~ and ask for a lawyer.

[NNN0LHI]

67. I would advise her to get one of these

Smart Money Counterfeit Bill Detector Pen For Use With U.S. Currency

For use with U.S. currency. An amber mark passes the test, a dark brown or black mark means the bill is suspect. Counterfeit Bill Detector Type: Pen; Marking Color: N\A; Counterfeit Indication Mark: N\A; Currency: U.S..

[CraftyGal]

68. She needs a lawyer and fast.

Please contact http://www.sexwork.com/legal/AZHB2307.html">Sexweork Cyber Resource Centre, they may have more information or point you in the right direction. Wish prostitution was not criminal.

CraftyGal

[Hoopla Phil]

69. So how did things turn out?

[lightningandsnow]

70. Show her this:

http://whore.bravehost.com/arrest.html

It's a guide written by a former sex worker on what to do if you get arrested.

[tonysam]

73. They aren't "sex workers"

People need to cut out with the "victimless" crime propaganda.

[toocoolforschool]

71. do the crime. do the time.

simple. your actions have consequences. she should make this a learning opportunity so she doesn't make this mistake again.

[guitar man]

72. not to talk

without an attorney, period.

[CraftyGal]

75. How is your friend doing? Please give an update.... n/t