Denton Investigators Unraveling 'Suburb Secrets'

Ginger Allen
May 1, 2006 9:04 pm US/Central

(CBS 11 News) DENTON Federal investigators are in Denton unraveling what they call a criminal enterprise that has ties to Las Vegas.

The two north Texas women involved in the operation are convicted prostitutes.

It's not the soothing fountains, or the manicured garden that has federal agents going after a $300,000 house in suburban Denton.

For nearly two years, a north Texas-based IRS task force has been eyeing it, a 4-acre ranch around the corner worth another $300,000 and a $600,000 house in Las Vegas.

The government hopes to seize and sell all three properties to keep their owners from enjoying them.

Denton native Rebekah K. Dean, aka Nicole Anne Wilson, is a convicted prostitute who advertises escort services on a national website. It says she charges $550 an hour and up to $4,500 a night.

Investigators tell CBS 11 News that Dean and another convicted prostitute, Tina Marie Bennett, belong to a Denton-based group that bought the properties with profits from a highly lucrative criminal enterprise.

When we went to the house a woman there said they would not talk.

Last month, Dean and Bennett were indicted for bank fraud involving six-figure money transfers.

“They've utilized bank accounts in different names. They buy property in different names. They use the financial system to wire money back and forth between banks in different locations,” said Andrew Stover, U.S. Attorney.

Last year, Stover helped break up a major prostitution ring in McKinney and one in Plano.

In those cases, the IRS seized millions in houses, expensive jewelry, and cars.

The investigation at the north Texas IRS office is ongoing. CBS 11 News has learned that the Denton-based group allegedly involves more women and at least one man - all who travel to other cities like Las Vegas but come home to north Texas.

We were also told the group's operation supposedly generated at the very least, two million dollars.

Law enforcement officials say prostitution rings in the suburbs is a growing trend not only in north Texas but nationally. They say the internet has allowed pimps to expand their illegal businesses and move from the gritty streets to the quiet anonymity of upscale neighborhoods

“Obviously, we can't know of everything that is occurring in our community, but we do try to identify...those kinds of problems and quickly send resources necessary to stop those issues in our community,” said Greg Rushin, Plano Police Chief.

Investigators believe the Denton group tried to use at least some of its money to go legit… with a pizza restaurant on Lewisville's main street. The eatery is out of business now, but a website still advertises pizza, using Dean to lure customers.

During a court hearing in April a judge asked Bennett how she earned money... she answered that she was "an entertainer."

Attorneys for both women refused to comment on the charges and the allegations of prostitution.