Carter Lake, Iowa, USA, United States
Richard Costanzo, 45, of Carter Lake, Iowa, was sentenced on November 4, 2011, to 96 months in prison by Chief United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon, in Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. Costanzo previously pled guilty to Conspiracy to commit various prostitution offenses during 1997 to 2009; three counts of Using a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution; one count of Transportation with intent to promote prostitution; and two counts of Money laundering. Following a hearing on October 12 and 13, 2011, Judge Bataillon had found that Mr. Costanzo knowingly caused a minor to engage in prostitution. Evidence presented at that hearing also indicated that Mr. Costanzo had operated his escort business for over 10 years. Mr. Costanzo also pled guilty to witness tampering in a related case. He received a sentence of 96 months for that conviction, to run concurrently. Richard Costanzo is the President of Dream Girls, Inc. a Nebraska corporation. Theresa Costanzo, (the sister of Richard Costanzo), Janna Wasko, (Richard Costanzo’s ex-wife), and Michael Wasko, (the husband of Janna Wasko), are all alleged in an April 2010 indictment to have worked at the business in various capacities. The indictment alleges that Dream Girls, Inc., advertised itself under many different names and held itself out as an escort service but was a front for prostitution. The indictment also alleges at least one of the escorts who worked at the business was under 18 years of age.