Prostitution in Williamsburg, Virginia

The Virginia Gazette, the bi-weekly publication of news for locals, has reported extensively about a police raid at a local house being used by a prostitution ring. Having lived and had family here for over four decades, this is the first report of such happenings in what is a very conservative community.

An examination of the history of Williamsburg, Virginia since it's founding in 1632 records only one event that might rival this report and that was recorded in 1707. This one instance recorded by Colonial Williamsburg historians, reports that a local blacksmith was charged with "keeping a whore in his house and absenting himself from the church." It is reported that he was "convicted and fined five shillings for missing church, but nothing further about the woman was recorded."

Seems the prostitution ring was being operated by several illegal aliens from El Salvador. The three pimps and two prostitutes were rounded up on November 21, jailed and hopefully reported to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). For now, all are being held without bail in the regional jail. Interestingly, no "johns" were arrested during the police raid and one can assume that business was not booming at this "house of ill repute."

This operation has all the hall marks of a "blue-collar" operation as the going rate for services was reportedly $30 for 15 minutes or $100 for an hour. This is hardly the high priced operation that has ended the careers of many notables, the most recent being Eliot Spitzer, former Governor of New York, in recent nationally reported news.

Williamsburg, Virginia, is the location of the College of William and Mary, the home to Colonial Williamsburg, an extremely popular, family oriented tourist destination and Busch Gardens which operates a very large theme and amusement park. These local attractions generate over a million visitors annually. The reported location of this bawdy house is located only a few miles from the center of these tourist attractions and virtually adjacent to numerous outlet malls that have opened to cater to the millions of tourists that are drawn to the area.

The impact on the community is one of amazement and is likely to result in increased surveillance of the activities of the many Hispanic and other foreign nationals who are attracted to the area seeking seasonal employment in the numerous tourist oriented lodging, retail, and food service operations. One can expect that area "Neighborhood Watch" organizers have been alerted to this unusual activity and will be energized to insure that this is not allowed to diminish the reputation of the community.

This somewhat isolated private residence existed on Richmond Road which is the well traveled main thoroughfare to Williamsburg, and less than two miles from Colonial Williamsburg. No sidewalks are available and very limited parking would be available without attracting attention, so one can assume this operation probably catered to a relatively small number of clients.