Former massage parlor owner convicted of human trafficking

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Updated: January 30, 2012 3:22PM

A northwest suburban massage parlor owner who forced four foreign women into prostitution — and made them to get tattooed with his moniker to show he owned them — was convicted by a federal jury Monday.

Alex Campbell was found guilty of three counts each of forced labor, harboring illegal alliens for financial gain, and confiscating passports and other immigration documents to force the victims to work. He was also convicted of one count each of sex-trafficking by force and extortion, a release from the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

The jury deliberated for two to three hours beginning last Thursday after a three-week trial.

Trial testimony showed that Campbell, who formerly operated the Day and Night Spa on Northwest Highway in Mount Prospect, used violence and threats of violence to force three women from Ukraine and one from Belarus to work for him without pay, and at times with little or no subsistence, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

All four victims testified, as did co-defendant Danielle John, 25, who pleaded guilty before trial to two counts of harboring illegal aliens for financial gain.

Campbell, also known as “Dave” and “Daddy,” 45, formerly of Glenview, remains in federal custody without bail and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years on the sex trafficking count. He also faces between 5 to 20 years on each of the remaining counts.

No sentencing date has been set.