A Rochester woman who was reportedly communicating with an accused pimp while he sat in jail — and was arrested herself on prostitution charges — has been sentenced to a diversion program.
Shannon Christine Funk, 27, was charged in September with two counts of felony promotion of prostitution and two counts of receiving profits from prostitution, also felonies.
She pleaded guilty to one of the promotion charges last week in Olmsted County District Court. Judge Gerald Wolf sentenced her to the diversion program and supervised probation for five years. In exchange for the plea, the other charges were dismissed.
In August, Funk was identified as an associate of Charles Antonio Webster, 39, after the two had made frequent contact after Webster's arrest. Also named as an associate was Zena R. Trass, 30.
According to the complaint filed against Funk, the three discussed prostitution operations and attempts to raise money for bail. Webster allegedly ordered Trass out to "make (him) money."
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On Sept. 3, an undercover Rochester police officer called an escort ad suspected to belong to Trass.
An agreement was made to meet at a hotel in Stewartville; terms of the transaction were discussed, the complaint says.
At the appointed time, a vehicle driven by Funk entered the area, with Trass as the passenger. The two appeared to be examining the area, looking inside other parked vehicles, according to the report.
Trass allegedly called the undercover officer and told him to meet her at an outside door of the hotel; Trass appeared nervous, telling him she was only there for a massage.
The two women were then arrested by members of the surveillance team.
Funk told investigators she'd been involved in the prostitution operation for some time, and that in return for giving Trass rides to her appointments, Trass paid for the hotel they lived in, as well as paying for gas and food. Funk said their only income was the money Trass made through prostitution.
When officers called the number from the solicitation ad, the phone belonging to Trass rang, the complaint says.
Trass, who listed a Chicago address, was charged with gross misdemeanor prostitution.
