Sex videos, adultery, exhibitionism and more than 100 clients, most of them known in the Maine social scene, were only a few of the components of the high-profile case of Alexis Wright. A Zumba instructor turned prostitute.
It all went down on February 12, 2012, when police agents raided Wright's business in Kennebunk, Maine, and found a massive amount of evidence that suggested she was running a prostitution business.
Text messages, email and Skype conversations between Wright and her business partner Mark Strong Sr. were amongst the evidence found by agents, along with live video streams of sex acts, videos showing Wright and Strong engaging in conversations about payments, scheduling, insurance, her sexy outfits and clients' preferences, and talks about their business goals: nine clients a week, 45 clients per month.
Wright's arrest became a scandal because she dealt with at least 150 clients including a former mayor, a high school hockey coach, a minister, a lawyer and a firefighter.
The 30-year-old Wright was accused of conspiring with Strong, a 57-year-old insurance business owner to run a prostitution business in which she videotaped clients without their knowledge and kept detailed records over an 18-month period indicating she made $150,000 tax-free. She also collected more than $40,000 in public assistance.
Wright was originally charged with 106 counts. All the counts in the plea agreement were misdemeanors, including three counts relating to welfare and tax fraud that were reduced from felonies.
Under the agreement, prosecutors will seek restitution of $58,000, as Wright cooperated with them and spared the state an expensive trial and she will also have to serve 10 months in jail.
''In my eyes I'm free. I free from this. And I have an incredible amount of strength that I knew was in me somewhere. Now that I have the strength I want to encourage others to come forward. I want them to know that there's at least one person out there who'll believe their story, no matter how crazy it seems,'' Wright said to the judge, explaining that she felt relieved after police raided her business because she had been wanting out for a long time.
Wright's attorney said that the defendant had a difficult childhood as she was a victim of domestic violence and sexual abuse, and her business partner, Mark Strong Sr., took advantage of her background to manipulate her.
''It's my intention to stand up for what is right. When I'm out, I'm going to pursue helping people fight through situations that are similar to mine. I'm optimistic that something good will come out of this,'' added Wright.
On the other hand, Strong was convicted of 13 counts related to promotion of prostitution and was sentenced to 20 days in jail. He was originally charged with 59 counts, and during his trial a video showing Wright engaging in sex with a client was shown, making her decision of reaching an agreement easier because she didn't want more videos or evidence exposing herself in explicit acts released.
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