CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Following an hours-long standoff in Charlottesville, authorities arrested a Virginia man accused of operating a prostitution ring across the East Coast, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Brian Turner, 42, was taken into custody on a federal criminal complaint charging him with violating the Mann Act, which criminalizes transporting someone for prostitution.
Using a commercial sex website, an account linked to Turner's email uploaded "hundreds" of commercial sex advertisements, officials said. An FBI-led investigation revealed Turner produced sex advertisements in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
From developing the advertisements and scheduling illegal meet-ups to transporting victims to and from hotels, officials said "Turner controlled all or almost all aspects of arranging commercial sex dates."
Officials said Turner targeted women who had drug addictions and would in turn use their addiction to manipulate them. He allegedly did this by becoming the victims' main drug supplier and threatening to withhold drugs if they did not obey.
He is also accused of using a gun to "compel" the victims to follow directions.
Turner now awaits a federal indictment.