Among those arrested were a 40-year-old woman who ran the advertising firm, the heads of the escort services and the drivers who took the escorts to the jobs.
Police say the illegal operations were run out of Somad Enterprises, an advertising firm based in Chelsea. Somad and five escort services allegedly generated more than $7 million in revenue in the past two and a half years.
"All anyone has to do is open a copy of the Village Voice to see how classified advertising and prostitution go hand in hand in this city," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said. "The johns in this case came from all walks of life, including the former dean of the Scarsdale High School."
The suspects were charged with enterprise corruption, money laundering, promoting prostitution and narcotics trafficking.
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