Mass. madam’s arrest could prove embarrassing
Published 4:09 pm Thursday, June 13, 2013
Young women who worked for accused madam Lori Barron told police they performed sex acts on hundreds of area men, including a police officer, firefighters, a city councilor, teachers, lawyers and court workers, according to police reports filed Tuesday.
Barron, 50, known to her workers as “Nina,” is accused of secretly and illegally taping the sexual trysts in “The Day Spa for Gentlemen,” a business raided by Lawrence detectives after Barron’s arrest Monday at her Salem, N.H., home.
She is charged with seven felony counts, including human trafficking, illegal wiretapping, keeping a house of prostitution and photographing an unsuspecting nude person.
The mother of two who has been married for 20 years is accused of preying on needy women and young mothers, first employing them as receptionists and then “promoting” them to massage therapists. They were required to perform sexual acts, including manual and oral sex, for cash.
Barron allegedly videotaped the women with the johns, using the video footage to blackmail the women if they stepped out of line or tried to quit. She also threatened to call the Department of Children and Family services and make allegations against women who had children, according to court papers.
Police started investigating the Broadway brothel in March after Barron allegedly had a fight with one of her workers who refused to let a client “spank” her.
“Barron liked working with girls that were in a bad situation and needed money,” one worker told police.
A list of Barron’s clientele was not released Tuesday, and it was unclear if any of the johns will face prosecution.
Judge Mark Sullivan set Barron’s bail at $30,000, which she posted by bank check. She is due back in Lawrence District Court on June 27.