Some previously sealed court documents were exposed to the light of day recently.  KPHO reports…

Details emerge in Desert Divas case

A judge Friday unsealed 97 pages of court documents that reveal new details about the biggest prostitution probe in Arizona history.

The records show the group’s business office in Phoenix, raided by police in August, housed not only a “lounge area” where escorts waited for appointments, but also “shower facilities” for escorts to use afterwards.

An inventory of property seized by police listed expensive houses, high-dollar sports cars, $28,000 in jewelry and dozens of weapons. The total value is estimated at more than $2 million.

Investigators said they believe Paul Nichta was the ringleader of the Desert Divas illegal sex-for-money operation. As for some of the other key players, records show Adam Beech was “trusted to handle the marketing of the “escorts” as more than just “escorts.”

Investigators believe Scott Eder was “responsible for assuring the ‘escort’s’ sexual performance for the paying customer.”

About a dozen key players were believed to be running this operation, records show. Police say all have been arrested.

Phoenix police, working on a tip they said they received from Scottsdale police, started the investigation about a year ago in cooperation with the county attorney’s office. The investigation included financial records, computer records and interviews with former escorts.

Police said the investigation has connections to Albuquerque, N.M., and Philadelphia. Philadelphia Police Department vice detectives arrested one suspect in the case; the Albuquerque Police Department Vice Unit conducted a search on the Desert Divas New Mexico office and arrested several suspects.

Over the Labor Day weekend, police arrested what they call the final key player in connection with Arizona’s largest prostitution bust, authorities said.

Sheila Bucalo, 41, was arrested along with Veronica Rodriguez, 20, and Linda Morris, 26, police said.

Investigators said Bucalo turned herself in before a judge during the last week of August.