A Tucson couple accused of operating a prostitution ring in Tucson for more than four years were unable to reach a plea agreement during a settlement conference in court Monday.
Clarissa Lopez and Ulises Ruiz were charged with multiple felonies in February 2016 in connection with the “By Spanish” prostitution ring, that had locations scattered across Tucson until it was shut down during a January 2015 raid.
The couple was indicted on six felony charges each, including illegal control of an enterprise, keeping a house of prostitution, receiving the earnings of a prostitute and money laundering.
Lopez was also charged with an additional two felony counts of pandering, for recruiting women to lead a life of prostitution, court records show.
At the settlement conference in Pima County Superior Court, attorneys for Lopez and Ruiz argued that their clients should be allowed to plead guilty to one undesignated offense each, as opposed to the multiple felony counts they’re facing.
An undesignated offense is treated as a felony, but the court can later enter a ruling to designate it as a misdemeanor, according to Arizona law.
A class six felony is the lowest level one can be charged with. The charges Ruiz and Lopez are facing are all class three or class five felonies.
Pima County Prosecutor Bruce Chalk said he was not interested in an undesignated offense plea and was ready to proceed to trial.
Lopez’s attorney, Cornelia Honchar, argued that the Tucson Police Department’s investigation was “sloppy” and a “cover your a--” operation once law enforcement officers were found to have been involved.
Honchar also reiterated that none of the men identified as customers were charged with any crimes and argued that the charges against her client were excessive, as it’s a misdemeanor for men to pay for sex.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Howard Fell asked why Lopez and Ruiz should be allowed to plead to the open-ended offenses, to which Honchar replied that they deserve a fresh start.
Assistant Public Defender Sean Bruner, who is representing Ruiz, said there was no evidence that his client did anything to merit the charges levied against him.
He said there are no financial records to indicate Ruiz was involved in money laundering, saying that the county Attorney’s Office was “trying to pull him in because he’s the boyfriend.”
Bruner argued that Ruiz has no criminal history, despite the fact that he was convicted of disorderly conduct in November in connection with assaulting a neighbor who was taking pictures of the alleged brothel.
Ruiz’s only connection to “By Spanish” was that he answered the phone “once or twice,” Bruner said.
However, from 2011 to 2015, while “By Spanish” was allegedly operating, Ruiz and Lopez had no documented source of income but were able to purchase a home, two cars and two businesses — a pet store and a hair salon, Chalk said.
The county Attorney’s Office has receipts for over $200,000 in purchases and a “huge amount” of that cash can be directly attributed to Ruiz, Chalk told the court.
Lopez and Ruiz, who were seated in the court gallery, remained silent throughout the proceedings, giving no indication whether they’d be willing to plead guilty to a felony charge.
The couple are due back in court May 17 for a status conference, at which time they can submit a change of plea if they’re ready, Fell said.
