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Shreveport Police Department

www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Aug. 29, 2001

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

Lakeshore Inn property managers arrested

A pandering operation to crack down on houses for prostitution has resulted in the arrests of two property managers at the Lakeshore Inn.

The Shreveport Police Department’s Vice Unit arrested Dharmeshkumar Patel, 27, and Chhaganbhaig Patel, 68. (Names are pronounced Dar-mesh-ka-mar and Chog-han-bog Pa-tell).

The Patels, who are father and son, are both charged with pandering, which is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. They lived at the hotel where they were arrested about 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The Vice Unit’s operation lasted about three weeks and involved girls posing as prostitutes and renting rooms for immoral purposes.

"We’re extremely concerned and will aggressively pursue those who engage in and allow for prostitution," Chief of Police Jim Roberts said. "It is a well known fact that these individuals are more likely to spread communicable diseases. Prostitution can also contribute to the homicide rate, drug use and other illegal activities."

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