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Deputies say man's escort service led to prostitution

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 7, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Sheriff's deputies on Friday arrested a man who they said advertised an escort service that led to prostitution.

Steven Velletri was arrested at the Pinellas County courthouse, where he was before a judge requesting early termination of probation for failing to register as a sex offender, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said.

Velletri, 40, of 2211 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg, was arrested on three counts of deriving proceeds from prostitution and one charge of violating probation.

Detectives homed in on him following an investigation that began in January 2004. In April 2005, detectives contacted Velletri by a phone number in one of the ads for "XTC Playmates" in Nightmoves, a local adult magazine.

During a conversation, the Sheriff's Office said, Velletri told detectives he made $1.2-million in his business. Velletri also said he was world famous and his agency was "ranked among the very best," according to a news release.

Velletri is alleged to have employed 12 women as escorts.

"During the course of the investigation, detectives determined he was using some escorts as prostitutes," sheriff's spokesman Mac McMullen said.

He said Velletri is a sex offender from New York who was arrested in February 2004 for failing to register in Pinellas County. Velletri was being held Friday in the county jail.

[Last modified January 7, 2006, 01:09:14]