Pa. firms behind escorts.com face federal charges

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Two Philadelphia-based companies have been charged with running a website used by prostitutes and escort services to advertise their services.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Harrisburg says that National A-1 Advertising Inc. and R.S. Duffy Inc. will plead guilty to money laundering conspiracy. A plea agreement filed today in federal court in Williamsport says the companies have agreed to forfeit $4.9 million, pay a $1.5 million fine and serve 1 1/2 years of probation.

Court documents say the companies operated a website called escorts.com. The companies have forfeited the domain name.

National A-1 also operates phone-sex lines and a pornographic website. Those portions of its business are unaffected by the escorts.com case.

National A-1’s attorney declined comment. Duffy’s attorney did not immediately return a phone call.