Houston Pimp was seeking 'something different'

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Pimp was seeking 'something different'

Former software programmer gets 10 days in jail, probation for role in running brothel

By BRIAN ROGERS and CHRISTINA WRIGHT

2007 Houston Chronicle

Given his credentials, few expected Jeff Yu-Kuang Lin's life to take such a drastic turn, veering off into a seamy world of prostitution.

A Chinese immigrant who grew up in Houston, Lin got his degree in chemical engineering at Rice and a master's from the University of Houston. For 10 years, he spent up to 100 hours a week as a software programmer for a Houston start-up.

Over the years of sitting in front of a computer screen, Lin made few friends and only talked to co-workers for an hour a day. Eventually, his wife left him and moved to California. She took the couple's daughter.

When the business was sold, Lin was a millionaire. His salary, stock options and bonuses left him with a small fortune.

Then, according to court testimony and records, Lin considered his options and made the decision to open a brothel in a strip mall across the street from a residential neighborhood on Richmond.

The 46-year-old computer geek turned pimp is now in a city jail, serving a 10-day sentence for running what prosecutors said was for three years a million-dollar brothel. After he gets out of jail, Lin will serve five years' probation.

Lin began to break down in tears as he asked state District Judge Jeanine Barr for probation after pleading guilty to aggravated promotion of prostitution.

In testimony that lasted almost an hour, Lin answered questions about his past, how he got into the business and the impact his arrest had on his life.

He said the day police came to arrest him, he knew he was in the middle of the biggest mistake of his life.

"Money wasn't the motivation," Lin said. "I just wanted to experience something different."

'Invisible owner'

Lin said he was approached casually by his eventual partner, Bingwa Chao, about being an "invisible" owner because he spoke English better than Chao.

Lin said in court that Chao asked him to rent a commercial property, get the utilities turned on and handle the books. Soon, Lin started working some nights and settling disputes between Chao and the women. Soon, he was managing the business, and he started dating one of the prostitutes.

The women who worked in the brothel were mostly from Asia and moved around the country, changing locations every 10 days, Lin said.

During the arguments for sentencing, Lin's attorney, David Adler, presented a letter from one of the prostitutes who worked in the spa, praising Lin for his kindness. As an example, she wrote that Lin would take the girls to the bank to deposit money collected from "Johns."

"I think the judge was fair, and I can't really ask for more than that," Adler said. "It was appropriate for my client and the taxpayers."

Assistant District Attorney Kelly Siegler argued for a two- to five-year prison term because "the ones who are making the money off of these whorehouses should go to jail."

Serving time

Chao, 59, was sentenced to two years in prison.

"When you're the pimp, you go to prison," she said. Siegler said Houston has about 300 such brothels.

Siegler estimated that the Blue Angel Spa at 9544 Richmond made more than $1 million a year with five girls turning five "tricks" a day, seven days a week.

As a term of his probation, Barr also sent Lin to jail for 10 days. She also ordered him to get a job.

"Eventually, maybe you'll work your way up to the job you are obviously qualified for, but, until then, you're going to work," Barr told Lin.

Lin must perform 250 hours of community service, pay a $500 fine, and is not allowed any contact with two other spa workers who were convicted in the case. They were given probation.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4914081.html