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By The Associated Press | Friday, July 04, 2008 | (1 comment(s))
FRANKLIN, Ind. | A police officer who was fired after he was accused of helping his wife run a prostitution ring surrendered to authorities Thursday.
Former Indianapolis police officer Jeremy Lee was later released on bond from Johnson County Jail, according to a jail officer.
Lee, 30, faces a charge of aiding in promoting prostitution. Lee would collect money from prostitutes hired by his wife, Lori Vernon-Lee, while wearing his police uniform, according to court documents. The ring allegedly was operated out of the couple's home in the Indianapolis suburb of Greenwood.
Indianapolis Police Chief Michael Spears fired Lee on Wednesday after authorities in Johnson County issued arrest warrants for him, his wife and Jerry L. McCory, 56. McCory, a former Merrillville police chief, was later released on bond on a misdemeanor charge of patronizing a prostitute.
McCory also directed the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and advised former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson. He led state commissions combating drug use and drunken driving. He most recently worked for the Marion County sheriff.
Vernon-Lee, 36, remained in jail Thursday on charges of promoting prostitution. She allegedly recruited women to serve as escorts and then advertised their services in a weekly Indianapolis newspaper, authorities said.
When clients called Vernon-Lee's escort service, she allegedly would arrange for a meeting between clients and one of the escorts during which money was exchanged for various sex acts.
Each escort would turn over part of the money she collected -- typically about half -- to Vernon-Lee, whose husband would collect the cash while in his police uniform, the affidavit states.
Messages seeking comment were left Thursday at possible phone numbers listed for Lee and McCory.
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Kingpin wrote on Jul 4, 2008 2:43 PM:
Hey, I can trust this guy, he got a gun and a badge. "