A high-profile University of Mexico professor is the third person to be arrested in a widening investigation into a website that connected prostitutes with johns in New Mexico. Distinguished political science professor Chris Garcia, 71—whom investigators say used the online handle "Burque Pops"—was arrested in Albuquerque and charged with promoting prostitution, tampering with evidence and conspiracy. According to prosecutors, Garcia was an integral part of a group dubbed "The Hunt Club," a seven-member team led by Upper West Side Professor David Flory, who was the first to be arrested—but almost definitely not the last.
The "Hunt Club" (ugh) was tasked with finding new prostitutes for the site known as Southwest Companions, which Flory insists that he ran as a "hobby" and did not profit from. Investigators seem to agree; even though Flory allegedly bought the site, it seems its purpose was to create a "safe" way for men to connect with prostitutes. "They needed a safe place where they could go to do this," police Lt. William Roseman tells the AP, adding that the johns—many of whom had a lot to lose if they were exposed—paid the prostitutes, not the website.
The membership base reportedly included individuals from a cross-section of society, and Albuquerque Public Safety Director Darren White says, "There are probably some very nervous people out there right now." Garcia is professor emeritus of political science at the University of New Mexico, and also authored 11 books, including Moving into the Mainstream. The AP reports that he was also interim president of the university from 2002 to 2003. It's unclear how deeply the prostitution ring was enmeshed with academia, but Lt. Roseman says, "At this point it looks purely coincidental" that both "Burque Pops" and Flory were professors.
More arrests are expected as investigators sift through website data obtained from a computer seized at Flory's home. Also arrested is one Cara Garrett, who allegedly sold the website to Flory but was still involved in it. Garrett, 28, was arrested for threatening a potential informant after Flory's arrest. The Post reports that Garrett posted a comment on the site threatening Deborah "Sweetseduction" Innis of Albuquerque, telling Innis, "You can rat on me, you can bust clients to keep your [expletive] out of jail, but you can't run forever and that's what I suggest you do."
