Officials Bust Asian Prostitution Ring

Authorities in Atlanta have broken up a ring that smuggled up to 1,000 Asian women into the United States to work in brothels as virtual prisoners. Assistant U.S. Atty. Janis Gordon said the women--from China, Thailand, Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam--signed contracts requiring them to pay the smugglers fees that ranged from $30,000 to $40,000. She said guards kept them from leaving the brothels until they had paid their debts. Gordon said 13 people have been indicted. The prostitution ring stretched across the United States, Gordon said, with the women flying from city to city to work in brothels where there was a demand for Asian prostitutes.