Couple Convicted of Running Prostitution Ring Out of Home

A South Bay couple accused of running an Internet prostitution ring out of their home were convicted this week of multiple counts of pimping, pandering and drug possession.

Jill Ellen McGrath, 37, and her husband, Christopher Davis, 35, were convicted Thursday by a Torrance jury after two days of deliberations. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24. McGrath remains in custody.

At the request of his 8-year-old daughter, Davis was allowed by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark S. Arnold to remain free this weekend so he could attend a father-daughter dance. Davis also is the father of a 21-month-old-girl. The children, who previously had been placed in the custody of the county Department of Children and Family Services, are staying with McGrath’s mother.

Davis, who is expected to turn himself in Monday, said his eldest daughter was aware of her parents’ situation. “I told her I have to go spend some time in jail,” he said.

Davis and McGrath were arrested in November 2003 on suspicion of running a prostitution service out of their Redondo Beach home through a website.

McGrath was arrested a second time in July while awaiting trial during a sting operation after police received a tip that she was operating another website out of a new home in Lawndale. Authorities were led to her by a woman who offered sex for money to an undercover officer.

Police said the couple’s website featured photos of women and charged a referral fee of $300 to $600 an hour. The couple employed 25 to 30 women and had about 1,000 clients, investigators said. Most of the women were students, housewives, fitness trainers and professionals in various occupations, police said.

McGrath’s attorney, Donald Marks, said his client’s defense relied heavily on contracts signed by the women she employed in which they committed to not engage in any illegal acts.

“We took the position that [McGrath] didn’t know what was going on,” Marks said.