Former N.M. college president jailed in alleged prostitution ring
(CBS/AP) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - An alleged multistate online prostitution ring authorities say was run by a New Jersey physics professor has led to another arrest in academia. Former University of New Mexico President F. Chris Garcia was jailed Thursday, booked for investigation of promoting prostitution, tampering with evidence and conspiracy, Metropolitan Detention Center records show.
Detectives served search warrants Thursday at Garcia's home and at his university office. He is now a professor at the school. Garcia, 71, was being held on a $35,000 cash or surety bond.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Garcia's detention was connected to the arrest earlier this week of David Flory, a 68-year-old Fairleigh Dickinson University professor with homes in New York City and Santa Fe.
Also Thursday, police said they had arrested a 28-year-old woman on suspicion of threatening another woman who helped police investigate the case. Cara Garrett, 28, was booked for investigation of bribery and intimidation of a witness. Garrett is in custody in Roswell and will be extradited to Albuquerque, police said.
Garcia is professor emeritus of political science at the University of New Mexico. He served as president of the university from 2002 to 2003. A distinguished professor and well-known expert on New Mexico politics, Garcia served from 1987 to 1990 as vice president of academic affairs. He was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1980 to 1986.
Garcia is also and author whose 11 books include "Hispanics and the US Political System" and "Moving into the Mainstream.
In a statement, the university said it learned of the ongoing Albuquerque Police Department investigation Thursday morning.
"We are and will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement," the statement said. "Media reports which state the search warrants were served in connection with the multi-state online prostitution ring are deeply disturbing. It is important for all of us, our entire university family, that we get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible."
The halls at the university's political science department were quiet Thursday afternoon, and Garcia's office door was closed and locked.
Fairleigh Dickinson University professor David Flory posted bond and was released from jail in Albuquerque Wednesday night.
Albuquerque police Lt. William Roseman said Flory ran a website for about three years and had about 1,400 members - about 200 prostitutes and about 1,200 johns.
Flory faces 40 charges of promoting prostitution.
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