Colorado Man Admits Transporting Women From Union County Hotel for Prostitution

A Colorado man pleaded guilty Tuesday to driving women from Union County to Philadelphia to work as prostitutes, according to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman. 

James Roy Smith, 36, a/k/a “Mister Smith,” admitted to conspiring to operate a prostitution business in numerous states and to transporting women across state lines to work as prostitutes between February 2009 and June 2010, according to a release from the United States Attorney District of New Jersey in Newark.

Smith pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport six women in June 2010 from New Jersey -- including one registered at the Econolodge in Elizabeth -- to work as prostitutes in Philadelphia.

The women were driven across state lines in a Cadillac Escalade registered to Smith's uncle, according to the release. The conspirators used Craigslist and Backpage.com to promote the prostitution business.

Smith faces a maximum 10 year sentence for interstate transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution and a maximum of five years for conspiracy to engage in that same offense.

Both counts are also punishable by a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for April 29, 2014.