Orlando Weekly Prostitution Case Could Impact Websites

ORLANDO — The arrest of three employees of the Orlando Weekly on charges of aiding and abetting prostitution could have implications for escort sites and other websites that carry classified and personal ads, according to an adult industry attorney.

“This case raises some significant 1st Amendment concerns,” attorney Lawrence Walters told XBIZ. “We’re talking about the government agency effectively shutting down a newspaper that was critical of its activities. There may be some extenuating circumstances in this case, depending on how the facts play out. But the prospect of a special law enforcement task force taking newspaper employees into custody on racketeering charges based on the content of its advertising is antithetical to the precepts of the free speech guarantee.”

Walters added that it was important to remember that advertising is considered “commercial speech,” which means that it is protected under the 1st Amendment, just as the rest of the Weekly’s content is covered.

“If the government is successful here, the implications are particularly chilling for similar media outlets,” Walters said. “Will newspapers across the country now be required to conduct background investigations into their advertisers, to ensure that they’re not involved in any untoward activity?”

The potential impact of the case on websites like CraigsList.org also is uncertain, Walters said.

“While these sites enjoy greater protection against civil liability under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, that provision does not appear to limit exposure to criminal prosecution,” Walters said. “So the basic approach that [Orlando’s Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation] is using might be utilized in the online realm, if a conviction ensues in the Orlando Weekly case.”

The arrests of the Weekly employees took place Oct. 19 at a job fair held at the Orlando Marriott Hotel. Officers from Orlando’s MBI arrested the newspaper’s classified ads director and two account executives following what was reportedly a two-year sting operation dubbed “Operation Weekly Shame.”

In the course of the sting, officers for the MBI reportedly posed as prostitutes interested in purchasing ads in the Weekly, and made it known to the representatives that fielded their advertising requests that the ads were for the purposes of furthering prostitution.

Rick Schreiber, publisher of the Orlando Weekly, staunchly defended his publication and his employees, and asserted that the arrests were made as a form of payback for negative coverage of the MBI that the Orlando Weekly has carried over the years.

“We suspect that the MBI has targeted our company because we are the only newspaper in the area that has been critical of the MBI in a series of investigative articles over the past several years,” Schreiber said.

In an article published following the arrests the paper describes the MBI as “an inept, inefficient police organization, answerable to no one.”

MBI Commander Paul Zambouros told reporters this week that the arrests had nothing to do with any vendetta against the paper, and nothing to do with the 1st Amendment.

“There are numerous advertisements for massage parlors and escorts and we have made numerous arrests for prostitution from the people from the advertisements,” Zambouros said.

Zambouros reportedly sent a letter to the head of the newspaper’s parent company asking him to pull the ads, which according to local media reports have generated $900,000 in advertising revenue for the Weekly in the past five years. The newspaper spurned Zambouros’ request and continued to publish the ads.

“The publisher told me that the only reason why we were making these demands is because the [MBI] did not like the press that the Orlando Weekly was giving us, which is absolutely not the case,” Zambouros said. “If the Orlando Weekly would have done away with their adult services section, we wouldn’t [be] having the conversation.”

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Federal Appeals Court Vacates FTC 'Click to Cancel' Rule Pending Review

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit on Tuesday vacated the Federal Trade Commission’s “click-to-cancel” rule aimed at making it easier for consumers to cancel online subscriptions, pending further review.

NYC Adult Stores Lose Challenge to Zoning Law, May Face Relocation

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on Tuesday upheld a lower court’s decision to allow enforcement of a 2001 zoning law aimed at forcing adult retail stores out of most parts of New York City.

FSC Drops Florida AV Lawsuit in Wake of SCOTUS Decision

A U.S. district court judge granted on Tuesday a motion by Free Speech Coalition to dismiss the trade association’s lawsuit over Florida’s age verification law, a case that had been on hold pending the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the constitutionality of state AV laws.

Ukrainian President Responds to Porn Legalization Petition

President Volodymyr Zelensky responded Tuesday to an OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine, stating that he would wait for the legislative process to play out “in accordance with established procedure.”

Only Tax Deductions Joins Pineapple Support as Sponsor

Adult industry accounting firm Only Tax Deductions has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Adult Empire Launches 'Conversations' Podcast Series

Adult Empire has launched a new official podcast series hosted by Nicole Chappelle and Charlie.

Sex Work CEO Launches 'Teams Plan' for AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Teams Plan for its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult Industry, Override Possible

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Show More