One of the main suspects in a prostitution scandal that entangled police officers admitted in court to running an illegal massage parlor for more than two years.
Stephanie Garcia pleaded guilty on Monday to felony counts of keeping a house of prostitution and receiving the earnings of a prostitute, according to Pima County Superior Court documents.
In February 2016 — a year after police raided 10 properties across Tucson believed to be offering sexual services — Garcia was charged with eight felonies, including illegal control of an enterprise, encouraging women to lead a life of prostitution and money laundering, court documents show.
From January 2013 through January 2015, Garcia operated a massage business called “Daisy’s Delights,” that advertised on websites, according to Arizona Daily Star archives.
Garcia previously worked for a massage parlor called “By Spanish,” which operated for four years until Tucson police shut it down during the January 2015 raid, following a yearslong investigation into the massage parlor ring.
The investigation showed that several police employees knew of or were customers of both businesses.
In 2013, Garcia left “By Spanish” to start “Daisy’s Delights,” employing several women to give massages and a “booker” to take appointments.
Garcia is facing a maximum sentence of two years in prison, but the charges also carry the possibility of probation, court documents show.
The date of her sentencing was not posted to Pima County Superior Court records as of Wednesday.
The “booker,” Miranda Gomez, pleaded guilty in March to an open-ended offense of receiving the earnings of a prostitute. Unlike Garcia’s plea agreement, which classifies both her offenses as felonies, Gomez’s plea says that her offense will be treated as a felony until the court decides to designate it a misdemeanor.
In May, the operator of “By Spanish,” Clarissa Lopez pleaded guilty to keeping a house of prostitution and receiving the earnings of a prostitute. She was sentenced to two years of probation and 600 hours of community service.
Lopez’s boyfriend, Ulises Ruiz, is facing six felonies in connection with “By Spanish” and is scheduled to go to trial in January.
