From correspondents in Los Angeles
August 16, 2006 05:44am

US authorities have smashed a massive prostitution ring allegedly operated by two Israeli nationals.

Authorities said the prostitution ring, operated out of Palm Springs, California, had employed 240 women in four US states.

Police seized 15 computers and $US5 million in unspecified assets from the homes of two men, Boaz Benmoshe, 44, and Ofer Moses Lupovitz, 43.

Riverside County Sheriff Bob Doyle said the men were facing charges of pimping, pandering, perjury, loan fraud, money laundering, and grand theft.

The business, known as Elite Entertainment and based in Palm Springs, east of Los Angeles, had 80 toll-free phone lines at its disposal through which Mr Benmoshe and Mr Lupovitz allegedly dispatched girls throughout California, Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona.

"Twenty telephone lines is considered a large operation, but this one operated throughout the western United States," Sheriff Doyle said.

Mr Benmoshe, Mr Lupovitz and five others arrested were set bail of between $US25,000 ($32,966.31) and $US1.5 million ($1.98 million).

"It was a mega-operation," Riverside County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Ingrid Wyatt said.

"There are still some outstanding subjects and the investigation is ongoing."

Prostitution is illegal in all US states except Nevada where it is allowed in some counties, under very strict rules.


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