Zumba instructor Alexis Wright pleads not guilty to turning gym into brothel
A Zumba instructor has pleaded not guilty to charges that she ran a brothel from her fitness studio and secretly filmed illicit encounters with clients.
Alexis Wright, 29, appeared in court today charged with 109 counts including prostitution and tax evasion.
Miss Wright, of Wells, Maine, is alleged to have taped herself having sex with men who were unaware they were being filmed and kept meticulous books suggesting she made as much as $150,000 from prostitution.
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Zumba scandal: Alexis Wright, 29, appears in court in Maine today charged with 109 counts of prostitution after allegedly running a brothel from a fitness studio
Police have issued summonses to Wright's alleged 150 customers, some of whom are well-known, who visited the brothel at her Pura Vida studio in Kennebunk.
Some clients were expected to be charged next week after police conducted a five-month investigation into the illegal goings-on at the gym.
Anonymous tip-offs led police to the scandal occurring after hours at Pura Vida , according to the Bangor Daily News.
Mark Strong Sr, a 57-year-old insurance agent and Wright's alleged business partner, also pleaded not guilty to 59 counts of promoting prostitution, invasion of privacy and conspiracy at the Portland courthouse.
Strong's lawyer, Daniel Lilley, said his client loaned money to Wright in the belief that her Zumba studio was a good business venture.
Zumba is a global fitness craze where participants work out using a blend of dance and aerobics moves to Latin music.
Started in 2001, the program is now followed by 14 million people in more than 150 countries.
Working out: Wright, 29, allegedly ran a brothel from Pura Vida studio in Kennebunk
Craze: The Zumba dance craze has swept the world and the Latin-inspired workout is now followed by 14 million people (stock image)
UPDATE:
The Cumberland County Superior Court issued a ruling this afteoon regarding a filed Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) motion to prevent disclosure of the names and addresses of certain persons who have been named in summonses issued by the Kennebunk Police Department and/or York County District Attoey's Office as the result of an ongoing investigation being conducted. Attached to this release is the Cumberland County Superior Court's order in its entirety for review. In keeping with the Cumberland County Superior Court's ruling, the Kennebunk Police Department has been directed to release only the names of certain persons issued summonses and to withhold addresses as some may also be alleged victims of criminal invasion of privacy.
Between October 5, 2012, and October 12, 2012, the Kennebunk Police Department charged the following people with Engaging in Prostitution based on an ongoing investigation. All individuals charged are due to appear in Biddeford District Court on December 5, 2012, at 1pm: Gary Bahlkow, Jens Bergen, Norman Crepeau, Joseph Cuetara, Kenneth Fairbanks, Donald Hill, Monie Hobbs, David Kline, Robert Labonte, Dale Madore, Paul Main, Harry McMann, Kevin Pagliccia, Claude Palmer, Philip Parker, Colin Powers, Clinton Ray, James Soule, John Verreault, James White, and Peter Wormell Sr.
You can download the Cumberland County Superior Court's order by clicking here.
UPDATE: The ages and states of residency are not being released for those charged with Engaging in Prostitution. So doing would contribute to identifying those who may be alleged victims of invasion of privacy.
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