The high-profile prostitution scandal at a Zumba studio, which featured over 100 clients concluded on Friday, in which the instructor, Alexis Wright was sentenced to 10 months in jail. Wright who turned her Maine Zumba studio into a brothel, was sentenced under a plea agreement for 20 counts including prostitution, conspiracy, tax evasion and theft by deception, the Associated Press reported.
"Based on what you have to say and what I know about you from your attorney, I know that you will succeed when you're released and that you will prevail. I wish you success," Justice Nancy Mills said.
Wright's attorney said the defendant suffered a difficult childhood, having witnessed domestic violence and suffering sexual abuse. Her eventual much older business partner Mark Strong, reportedly manipulated her, coaxing her to comply and begin the illicit business.
When she addressed the judge, Wright said she felt a sense of relief when police raided the studio on February 12, 2012. She intends to work when she is released with other women who are victims of abuse.
"In my eyes I'm free. I free from this. And I have an incredible amount of strength that I knew was in me somewhere. Now that I have the strength I want to encourage others to come forward. I want them to know that there's at least one person out there who'll believe their story, no matter how crazy it seems," she told the judge. "It's my intention to stand up for what is right. When I'm out, I'm going to pursue helping people fight through situations that are similar to mine. I'm optimistic that something good will come out of this."
Wright had been originally charged with 106 counts; all counts in the plea agreement were misdemeanors, including three counts relating to welfare and tax fraud that were reduced from felonies, the AP reported. The 30-year old was accused of conspiring with an insurance business owner to run a prostitution business in which she videotaped clients without their knowledge, keeping details records over an 18-month period in which she made $150,000 tax free. She also collected over $40,000 in public assistance.
In the agreement, prosecutors is seek $57,280.54 in restitution, the AP also reported.
The 57-year-old Strong was convicted of 13 counts related to promotion of prostitution and was sentenced to 20 days in jail. He was originally charged with 59 counts, admitting to an affair with Wright. He is also a married father of two kids.
The two kept in touch via text, email and Skype, in which Wright used to send a live video stream of sex acts to Strong. She had sex with clients both at the student and in her apartment. Videos also showed them speaking openly of ledgers, payments and scheduling, evidence showed.
