Vincent George Jr., left, and Vincent George Sr., listen to closing arguments in a courtroom in New York. The father and son who acknowledged they were pimps were acquitted Wednesday, June 19, 2013 of sex trafficking charges after several prostitutes testified they were treated well. (Associated Press)
A judge who heard prostitutes testify that a father-and-son pimp team made them feel like family cleared the two men of sex-trafficking charges Wednesday.
The men's supporters in the courtroom cheered the verdict, but the gallery fell silent when Manhattan Judge Ruth Pickholtz announced convictions against Vincent George Sr. and Vincent George Jr. on charges they laundered millions of dollars through music recording and car service businesses. The pair showed no emotion aside from slight smiles as they were led back to jail in handcuffs.
George Sr., 56, and his 35-year-old son had faced possible 25-year terms on sex-trafficking charges accusing them of coercing women into becoming prostitutes. They still could get up to 15 years at sentencing on July 8 for the money laundering conviction.
Despite the mixed verdict, District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. called the outcome a victory.
"The goal of the prosecution was to dismantle a criminal enterprise from top to bottom," he said. "That goal has been achieved with the Georges. ... There is no fairy tale ending for these defendants."
Defense attorneys -- who called the women working for their clients "happy hookers" -- also claimed victory, adding that they planned to appeal the convictions.
The men's supporters in the courtroom cheered the verdict, but the gallery fell silent when Manhattan Judge Ruth Pickholtz announced convictions against Vincent George Sr. and Vincent George Jr. on charges they laundered millions of dollars through music recording and car service businesses. The pair showed no emotion aside from slight smiles as they were led back to jail in handcuffs.
George Sr., 56, and his 35-year-old son had faced possible 25-year terms on sex-trafficking charges accusing them of coercing women into becoming prostitutes. They still could get up to 15 years at sentencing on July 8 for the money laundering conviction.
Despite the mixed verdict, District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. called the outcome a victory.
"The goal of the prosecution was to dismantle a criminal enterprise from top to bottom," he said. "That goal has been achieved with the Georges. ... There is no fairy tale ending for these defendants."
Defense attorneys -- who called the women working for their clients "happy hookers" -- also claimed victory, adding that they planned to appeal the convictions.
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