Coffee stall proprietor pleads guilty to operating a brothel

“The business was popular,” said one sworn statement, discussing Carmela Panico’s mini-chain of coffee shops.

But despite serving up an array of espressos, lattes and other coffee based drinks, the Seattle stores were offering a different kind of menu. And after a state investigation and a subsequent guilty plea, Panico, 52, has been told to forfeit some $250,000 and surrender her five coffee stands in the Seattle Area.

If you hadn’t figured it out yet, the coffee shops doubled up as illicit adult entertainment venues and, in some cases, illegal brothels.

According to reports Panico specifically opted to hire former escorts to act as baristas and would often encourage her staff to perform on-demand sex shows and engage in lewd behaviour to earn themselves, and the business, more money.

Some workers told law enforcers that they sometimes could earn $30,000 a month; one even said that she took in almost $500,000 during her time there.

Investigators claimed that the proceeds from her brothels were used to finance an extravagant lifestyle which included the purchases of horses, boats and expensive plastic surgery procedures.

Panico had been originally arrested for lewd behaviour previously, and her exploits and businesses came under attention once more when Kent police launched an investigation into a reported ‘sexually explicit’ show at her Twin Peaks stand.

In a dramatic twist, during that enquiry it transpired that there was a “dirty cop” who was working supplying Pacino with information about planned raids.

The City will be taking over the stalls, unless leases or purchases can be agreed.

“We are currently exploring our available options, and will likely sell the stands,” Meghan Pembroke, a City spokeswoman, said.

As part of her guilty plea, Pacino will testify under oath in regards to the accusations about the informant police officer, who reportedly received sexual favours in return for inside news regarding the investigation.

She is scheduled to be sentenced next March and is likely to spend twelve months in jail, according to local press reports.

There has been, recently, a flurry of stories emanating out of Washington that are concerned with bikini clad baristas offering additional services. One such example is the story of Hillbilly Hotties.

What is it with the north-eastern state?

Can’t coffee just be coffee?

photo: Google