News Article: Bills and Sabres (unnamed) referenced in sex trafficking story

[Chainshot]

I understand that but this seems like an escort service gone wrong. The woman were paid directly from the client which if she accepted the money is basically consent. It's this Shine guy who tried to act like a shady pimp and beat the girl or girls down and degrade them. It doesnt sound like it's a case against an entire operation where they go for clientele as well to prosecute or testify as witnesses. This seems like a black and white case against a shady pimp service gone bad.

What I fail to understand is if they were in this service against their will or on their own volition?

Age is also a big factor is the seriousness against clients. If the ladies were minors then this case is really bad.

The implication in the article is that they were doing this against their own self-interest via coercion. That's where the trafficking parts comes in.

 

[Derg12]

wealthy people/celebrities/athletes use escort services? stop the presses.

sad and gross, and not to be callous, but its not like this is anything new in the world of the 'elite' and certainly not unique to 'Buffalo athletes'. Probably happens in any hotel nightly everywhere in the world.

If they're hitting adult escorts.. ok. Get caught, pay your fine, whatever.

… but let's not forget, this NXIVM sex cult arrangement that involved J. Epstein involved minors. You know, kids.

 

[Beerz]

Can players be held accountable for anything? It seems like they just contracted her out for the night they werent actually apart of the sex ring or am I misreading it?

With escorts, you pay for their time, you already know ahead of time what you're paying for because she has all the authority in what she is willing to do. You're essentially just paying for consent.

If you paid someone else who forced her to do things then that's completely different because it's most likely against her will.

If it were consensual it would be labeled as prostitution ...... they are calling it sex trafficking.

Sex Trafficking: When an adult is coerced, forced, or deceived into prostitution—or maintained in prostitution through one of these means after initially consenting—that person is a victim of trafficking. Under such circumstances, perpetrators involved in recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for that purpose are responsible for trafficking crimes. Sex trafficking also may occur within debt bondage, as women and girls are forced to continue in prostitution through the use of unlawful “debt” purportedly incurred through their transportation, recruitment, or even their crude “sale”—which exploiters insist they must pay off before they can be free. A person’s initial consent to participate in prostitution is not legally determinative: if one is thereafter held in service through psychological manipulation or physical force, he or she is a trafficking victim and should receive benefits outlined in the Palermo Protocol and applicable domestic laws."

 

[sabremike]

OK so in the past 3-4 years we've had two heads of PSE forced out for sexual misconduct and now THIS??? We are now at James Dolan/MSG level of completely embarrassing organizations.

 

[Buffaloed]

I remember how quickly Patrick Kane and LeSean McCoy were convicted in the court of public opinion. I hope we learned something from that.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Most likely the Johns were ignorant to any sex trafficking, and just thought they were paying for high priced call girls. Unfortunately, about any sports team has guys doing that grimy stuff, and sex trafficking happens everywhere.

They are about the hardest types of cases to bring charges on, let alone get convictions for.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I remember how quickly Patrick Kane and LeSean McCoy were convicted in the court of public opinion. I hope we learned something from that.

Yea I’m sick of everyone convicting subdnshsudvs already in this thread!!!

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Hate to say it but I hope this is just more Russ Brandon crap...

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I will add that these cases take quite some time before they get to any stage in court, so expect that if any players are named or rumored, they are likely former players by now.

 

[jc17]

2 mentions of Russ Brandon.

It specifically says Bills and Sabres players. Brandon was allegedly fired/resigned or whatever based on inappropriate relationships with employees.

He might not be a great guy, but seems a bit irresponsible to throw his name around with the given information

 

[TheMistyStranger]

2 mentions of Russ Brandon.

It specifically says Bills and Sabres players. Brandon was allegedly fired/resigned or whatever based on inappropriate relationships with employees.

He might not be a great guy, but seems a bit irresponsible to throw his name around with the given information

I thought it said members of the Bills and Sabres.

 

[brian_griffin]

I read TBN link. I've read content from Maki Backer before and find it professional. It does raise many questions...

Is there any other source which indicates when the specific references to pimping / controlling this particular woman occurred (calendar years / time frame)? The inference, via reference to the drug addiction, is it began as long as 20-25 years ago concurrent with her initial addiction to crack. Or it might have begun later. When did it "end" for her? It takes time to compile this kind of suit for filing by a DAs office... there was testimony in 2015. Was she still being coerced / trafficked in her mid-40s?

How many other women were involved?
What other media sources / reports are there?
Was a distinction between current and former Sabres and Bills, intentionally omitted, or could have it been intentionally included to highlight the length / pervasiveness of the crimes?

The inference I draw is there are many other women involved. But I also make a leap of logic that the particular woman referenced in the article was not involved with any recent roster Bills / Sabres players. I admit I am naive, and there's also danger in my being misunderstood or construed as misogynistic since this isn't an oral conversation, but I can't see a world-class athlete in his young 20s paying for trysts with a woman 15-20 years older than him, never mind the degradation in health and appearance which can happen from 10-15 years of addiction. OTOH, the reference to online solicitation / arrangements likely places it in this millenium.

Disheartening / sad on so many fronts: The lack of dignity and human regard for the well-being of the victims. The morality of the pimps / organizers / perpetrators. The morality of the clients. The morality and likelihood of looking askance by at least some portion of law enforcement, hotel, restaurant, and club staff, transportation/drivers, etc.

 

[Reddawg]

My god... that was tough to read.

Seriously. All my free articles are gone and it won't load.

 

[Endless Ike]

Cool. We're in agreement that slavery is despicable. Now, let's objectively look at yachting and bottle service with the same contempt.

Look, if spending $5,000 for a table at Omnia in Caesar’s Palace is off limits, I don’t even know what we’re doing here any more.

But seriously, on what planet is bottle service tantamount to sex slavery? I better tell my wife that some lunatic on the internet says we’re despicable and quit going to clubs....

 

[Buffaloed]

It's sad that so many are accepting her claims about the Bills and Sabres as true. She could be trying to set herself up for a pay day. It's worth money for people not to have their name mentioned by her even if they're totally innocent. A lifelong drug addict is going to have a lot of experience at lying and being manipulative. Hustling is a way of life for an addict. It's terrible what happened to her, but don't think for a minute that she isn't playing her own angle. Her claims could very well be true but it's wrong to make that assumption without proof.

 

[Cuphead]

yall are real quick to believe that multiple 20 something year old rich athletes are lining up for a 49 year old prostitute, that has been using crack for 20 years.

at Marriott Harborcenter... and no one noticed?

 

[Sabre Dance]

It's sad that so many are accepting her claims about the Bills and Sabres as true. She could be trying to set herself up for a pay day. It's worth money for people not to have their name mentioned by her even if they're totally innocent. A lifelong drug addict is going to have a lot of experience at lying and being manipulative. Hustling is a way of life for an addict. It's terrible what happened to her, but don't think for a minute that she isn't playing her own angle. Her claims could very well be true but it's wrong to make that assumption without proof.

We're trained to believe the acuser at all times.

 

[missingmika]

If they hitting adult escorts.. ok. Get caught, pay your fine, whatever.

… but let's not forget, this NXIVM sex cult arrangement that involved J. Epstein involved minors. You know, kids.

NXIVM and Epstein were too separate things.

 

[Chainshot]

I doubt the DA would have put her in front of a judge if they felt her story wasn't credible.

 

[joshjull]

We're trained to believe the acuser at all times.

What world do you live in?

 

[Derg12]

NXIVM and Epstein were too separate things.

They're two separate stories - but there are relationships between people in both groups. Obviously, we don't know all the details, but don't be surprised if they don't both end up one in the same.

 

[joshjull]

yall are real quick to believe that multiple 20 something year old rich athletes are lining up for a 49 year old prostitute, that has been using crack for 20 years.

at Marriott Harborcenter... and no one noticed?

As opposed to y’all being real quick to make assumptions about things in the most over the top/negative way possible to dismiss the story.

I’m guessing you aren’t aware many NFL and NHL teams stay at the Harborcenter Marriott. Because the description of who she “occasionally” met there were described as “professional athletes” not as Bills and Sabres. Who were clearly described as being her clients and referred to as Bills and Sabre players in the article not “professional athletes”. If she was meeting Bills and Sabres at the Harborcenter Marriott, I imagine the article would have stated it outright. That leads me to believe the article is referring to other pro athletes who stayed there.

So yes its easy to imagine no one paying attention to a single women going into a hotel to meet someone. As opposed to an easily recognized Bill or Sabre going into that hotel with a woman to get a room.

You also might want to let go of your assumptions that someone who battled drug addiction and is 49 (right now) must be hideous looking. But even more than that the assumption that hiring a prostitute is even about looks, particularly for a pro athlete. It seems pretty obvious the transaction for the player is about getting what they want without the hassles they would deal with going to a bar or a club.


You have to be somewhat naive to think this story isn’t possible. Its fairly tame compared to the stuff the Jim Kelly era Bills got up to back in the day.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

yall are real quick to believe that multiple 20 something year old rich athletes are lining up for a 49 year old prostitute, that has been using crack for 20 years.

at Marriott Harborcenter... and no one noticed?

We're trained to believe the acuser at all times.

There are an amazing amount of hurdles to clear before a sex trafficking case can be put to trial. Any victim/witness that provides a weak account or shows to be unwilling or unable to provide quality testimony, ultimately will not even go to court (which unfortunately is the vast majority). The case will likely not result in charges, let alone an actual prosecution. Obviously there is a threshold for jurors to vote guilty, but from a practical standpoint the DA's office must feel they have a very strong case for them to bring it to trial.

Just understand that context before thinking people are suckers for believing her. At the very least, the defendants are sleazy people regardless of whether they are guilty of sex trafficking. Even if he's "just" a pimp, people aren't going to exactly root for him in court.

 

[slip]

I doubt the DA would have put her in front of a judge if they felt her story wasn't credible.

 

[Butt Ox]

Look, if spending $5,000 for a table at Omnia in Caesar’s Palace is off limits, I don’t even know what we’re doing here any more.

Let me help then. I prompted people to examine propaganda that contends that sex work is fun, glamorous, and profitable vis-a-vis reality where we see sex workers abused, exploited, and murdered. Where is the demarcation? The amount of money that changes hands? Coercion? Recruiters prey on those who don't recognize their true value. Money and access to drugs incentivizes, and then can be used as leverage. Hidden cameras are used during events that can later be utilized to blackmail the individual. Fear and intimidation used to keep the weak in line. That is exploitation.

Don't care where you "drop" your money, as long as it is done legally. You can choose to be a good steward with what you have; you can set it on fire. In a world where Jeffrey Epstein has defenders stating that eleven and twelve year old children were willing participants in their trafficking everything is circumspect.

You brought up a club in Las Vegas. Prostitution is illegal in Vegas. Bottle service workers are encouraged to sell themselves to keep the wealthy clientele coming back. Recruiters sell the money and fun aspect to attract more individuals. Perhaps they go to work at a club - maybe instead they go for a ride to the zorro ranches of the world and disappear. One month ago Vegas rescued 14 children and arrested 33 sex traffickers. Sadly many more fall through the cracks. Our nation sees a staggering number of people disappear each year. 612,000 in 2018.

But seriously, on what planet is bottle service tantamount to sex slavery? I better tell my wife that some lunatic on the internet says we’re despicable and quit going to clubs....

Yes, tell your wife instead that you stand with the libertines, traffickers, criminal organizations, and fellow
objectifiers and exploiters of the world and then bask in the glow of your mental wellness. Afterwards you can chat her up about all the yacht girls that have been disappearing and how it must be their own fault.

Better yet, you can realize I never called you despicable or indicated where you can go or how to spend your money. Controlling people is above my pay grade. Having concern for the children who fall prey to criminal elements who choose to exploit them for profit is well within my wheelhouse however.