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Dentist Charged In Prostitution Ring

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Dentist Charged In Prostitution Ring

by Dana Kozlov
CHICAGO (CBS) ― A local dentist was indicted Wednesday on charges of providing condominiums in one of Chicago's best-known high-rise buildings and a fleet of luxury cars for an interstate prostitution ring.

Prosecutors say Gary S. Kimmel, 56, lives at the Marina City and conducted some of his illicit business there.

The website for the Chicago dentist, promises "he'll take care of your smile." But federal prosecutors allege that Kimmel also took care of two pimps and a slew of prostitutes as part of a nationwide prostitution ring.

Kimmel was accused of accepting $405,000 from two pimps to purchase, finance, insure and maintain 11 cars, including a 2004 Corvette, a 2005 Lexus and a 2005 Mercedes-Benz.

Kimmel's dentist practice is inside a Streeterville high-rise. No one at the office was available for comment, but prosecutors said the charges against Kimmel were brought as part of a national investigation dubbed "Innocence Lost," which resulted in charges last month in Michigan and Hawaii.

Kimmel is not in custody. According to his attorney, he agreed to self-surrender and is awaiting arraignment.

The indictment said Kimmel accepted $375,000 from March 2002 through November 2005 from a group of prostitutes and Robert Lewis Young, who was indicted last month in Michigan and Hawaii.

It said Young, also known as "Blue Diamond," recruited women and underage girls to work as prostitutes in Chicago, Detroit and Honolulu.

The indictment asked a federal court to order forfeiture of gold, silver, copper and platinum coins as well as nine condominiums that Kimmel and his wife own at Marina City, a prominent landmark on the Chicago River just north of the Loop.

Prosecutors said Kimmel also lives at Marina City, known for its two 60-story towers that resemble corncobs.

Some of the dentist's neighbors were surprised to hear the news about the man they thought of as a friend and condominium board member.

"It's totally out of character," one person said.

His attorney, Joe Lopez, says he has nothing to do with the ring.

"His state of mind is he's in shock and disbelief that this has happened to him. He's a well-known dentist. He has a highly regarded reputation in his field and in his community," Lopez said.

Some of the condiminiums he owned were apparently rented out.

"He didn't have any knowledge that the tenant was involved in illegal activity, if, in fact, he was involved in illegal activity," Lopez said.

According to the indictment, Kimmel also accepted $30,000 between May 2002 and November 2004 from another alleged pimp, identified only as Individual A, and prostitutes working for him. It said that in return Kimmel bought, financed and maintained a vehicle they used.

In addition, the indictment said Kimmel accepted payments from Young and others involved in the ring in return for dental work he performed on Young and two other alleged pimps as well as prostitutes who were working for them.

According to an FBI affidavit filed with the indictment, a number of phone conversations between Kimmel and another individual involved were intercepted with court-authorized wiretaps.

In addition to money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, Kimmel is charged with interstate transportation of the proceeds of a crime, which carries a maximum of five years and a $250,000 fine.

If convicted, though, a court could impose substantially lighter terms under federal sentencing guidelines.

Kimmel is married with children.

(© 2006 CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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