Owner of Pa. fitness spa charged with sex trafficking in prostitution case
(TNS) — The owner of an Erie fitness spa who was previously charged with running a prostitution ring has now also been charged with sex trafficking.
Tina Silveus, the owner of Totally You Fitness Spa, and three managers — her children, Keyvon Silveus and Corrine Wilcott, and her son-in-law, Roscoe Carroll Sr. — were charged in June with using the business as a front to provide commercial sex.
Each are charged with corrupt organizations, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, promoting prostitution, and conspiracy to commit these crimes, according to a press release from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office.
During a preliminary hearing for Tina Silveus on Wednesday, she was additionally charged with sex trafficking.
According to GoErie, officials are charging that Silveus illegally coerced Wilcott into helping her run the prostitution ring. The criminal case againse Wilcott has been withdrawn.
Also charged in the case are 52 people, officials said frequented the business.
“This proposed fitness center was actually a highly-organized commercial sex-selling operation with employees who were targeted due to their vulnerabilities and trained not to disclose the full nature of the business and their income,” Attorney General Sunday said in a press release back in June. “The business owner and her associates recruited employees who were homeless or dealing with addictions. This despicable behavior has no place in the Commonwealth, and I commend the grand jurors, our Human Trafficking Section, and our law enforcement partners for shutting down this criminal enterprise.”