Philadelphia escort arrested for murder in DC

[Richard]

As far as I know, Premier, the escort agency in Philadelphia, has a sterlng reputation and a great website, so I don't want to give them a black eye. However, I just saw an article in The Washington Blade, D.C.'s gay newspaper, with a detailed story on an escort from Philadelphia who was arrested for murder and theft in D.C.

 

The escort's name is Luis Alberto Villafane. The article say he was listed with a Philadelphia escort agency, which had included the escort's photo. The photo and listing were removed following the arrest.

 

The only agency in Philadelphia I ever heard of is Premier, which led me wonder if Premier had a murderer in their stable.

 

Philadelphia folks might have better information and I would be happy to hear that Premier wasn't involved.

 

The article I read is most liklely available in the Blade's online edition (http://www.WashingtonBlade.com)

 

Thanks for any info you guys might have.

[ted]

I don't really have a clue which escort agency this guy worked for, however there is at least one other than Premier in Philly, Paramount has been around for awhile and doesn't have as stellar a rep

[Uncle Bill]

I took a look at the link you provided, and the story was there. The escort's picture is included, and he definitely looks familiar (I'd say from Premier since I rarely look at Paramount's site, but don't know for sure). In any case, if it matters to anyone, the police say that the victim was not the escort's client -- that they knew each other from before he started escorting and that their relationship was reported to be non-sexual in nature. Maybe their relationship had something to do with the fact that the victim was a drug dealer, which is why he had a bunch of cash around to steal. Obviously, none of this excuses the kid for what he did (to which he confessed), I just found these facts interesting. Also, since the victim was not a client, the agency (whichever one it was) had nothing to do with it other than having the PR problem of having this kid in its stable.

 

All that being said, it's more than a bit scary. We all know that the guys we hire are largely strangers to us (and to their agencies, if they work for one). We might try to form friendships, but the basis for the relationship is business. Also, many of these guys (especially the younger ones I prefer) have drug or money problems that tempt them to violate the law in more ways than escorting. In the case of this particular kid, I've taken notice of him on more than one occasion, and there would have been a very good chance of my hiring him if I had gotten to Philly. I can only imagine how those who have hired him feel right now.

[Uncle Bill]

Here's the text of the article:

 

Philly escort charged with killing D.C. man

Police allege teen stole $60,000 after crime

 

By LOU CHIBBARO JR.

 

A 19-year-old youth who worked for a gay escort service in Philadelphia allegedly stabbed D.C. accountant Michael Kainer to death inside Kainer’s District apartment on June 5, and then stole more than $60,000 in cash and an expensive plasma television from the apartment, according to a police affidavit.

 

The affidavit, filed July 9 in D.C. Superior Court, says suspect Luis Alberto Villafane returned to his home in Philadelphia on the day of the murder, where he used $32,000 of the stolen cash to buy a new Volvo. He then drove to Florida to take a vacation, the affidavit says.

 

Villafane has been charged with first-degree felony murder while armed in connection with Kainer’s death. He is being held without bond in the D.C. jail. The police affidavit says Villafane confessed to committing the murder when police questioned him following a search of his Philadelphia apartment on June 22.

 

D.C. police said the stolen cash was part of the proceeds Kainer earned from an illegal drug trafficking business, which he allegedly operated out of his carriage house apartment in the 100 block of U Street, N.W.

 

Those who knew Kainer said his murder has shaken a part of the gay male social circle where drugs are bought and sold, and has drawn renewed attention to the use of drugs in a part of the gay club scene.

 

A D.C. police homicide detective said the motive for the murder was robbery and was not related to Kainer’s alleged drug dealing business. However, one of Kainer’s friends, who spoke on condition that he remain anonymous, said he doubts the murder would have occurred had Kainer not been involved in selling drugs.

 

“I feel the murder was drug-related because this was a drug dealer with an insane amount of money in his apartment,” subjecting Kainer to great danger, said the friend.

 

D.C. police homicide detective Anthony Patterson confirmed reports by people who knew Villafane that the youth worked as an escort for a Philadelphia gay male escort service. The escort service included a photo of Villafane on its Web site before removing the photo at the time of Villafane’s arrest.

 

Patterson said Kainer met Villafane before Villafane began working for the escort service, and that Kainer was not believed to be one of his escort customers.

 

Suspect returned to find police searching his home U.S. marshals transported Villafane from Philadelphia to D.C. on July 8, two weeks after Philadelphia police arrested him in an apartment in the Arts Tower, an apartment building in the heart of Philadelphia’s Center City gay neighborhood. Villafane was arraigned in D.C. Superior Court on July 9.

 

Villafane’s arrest in Philadelphia took place after D.C. police homicide detectives presented Philadelphia authorities with information that linked Villafane to the murder. Philadelphia authorities then obtained a search warrant and conducted a search of Villafane’s apartment in the 1300 block of Locust Street, the affidavit says.

 

A 42-inch plasma television that had been stolen from Kainer’s apartment was discovered in Villafane’s apartment, the affidavit says. Villafane’s newly purchased Volvo was also found at the apartment building, the affidavit says.

 

According to the affidavit, Villafane arrived at the apartment at the time the police search was being conducted. He agreed to accompany police to the homicide branch, where “the defendant admitted to killing Michael Jerome Kainer,” the affidavit says.

 

“The defendant told detectives after killing the decedent on June 5, 2003, he returned to Philadelphia, purchased the new Volvo, then drove later to Florida to vacation,” the affidavit says. “The defendant also told detectives that evidence related to the murder could be found in his car. The detectives later recovered three bloody knives and bloody clothing from the defendant’s vehicle,” the affidavit says.

 

D.C. police discovered Kainer’s body on the kitchen floor of his apartment on June 10, the affidavit says. The affidavit says Kainer suffered from multiple stab wounds. An earlier police statement said there were no signs of forced entry into the apartment.

 

Brad Harris, a friend of Kainer’s for more than 10 years, said Kainer worked for a large accounting firm in the 1990s. Harris called Kainer intelligent, charming and well liked by a wide circle of friends. But Kainer withdrew from many of his friends in recent years after becoming consumed by the drug scene, Harris said.

 

“It’s truly sad how different he had become,” Harris said. “It’s almost like we knew this day was coming.”

 

The friend who spoke on condition that he not be identified said he did not think Kainer and Villafane had a sexual relationship. According to the friend, Villafane stayed at Kainer’s apartment while visiting D.C. from Philadelphia.

 

Detective Patterson said there was no link between Kainer’s murder and the June 4 assault and robbery of D.C. resident Wyatt Wood inside Wood’s house at 1212 Florida Ave., NW.

 

Police say they charged Wood with possession with the intent to distribute the illegal drug methamphetamine after they discovered drugs and related paraphernalia when they arrived at Wood’s house after he called the police emergency number to report he was being attacked at the house.

 

Police confiscated $19,000 in cash and 670 grams of the illegal drug crystal methamphetamine in Wood’s house. Wood is being held without bond in the D.C. jail.

 

Sgt. Brett Parson, commander of the D.C. Police Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, said drug use and sales in the gay club scene is no greater than the illegal sale and possession of such drugs in the straight club scene.

[+ Charlie]

I check Premier's website often, and I have never seen this kid's picture there. He looks much more like the Paramount "type", although I can't say for certain that I have seen him on their website. Paramount uses a lot of young kids from South Philly who are not exactly professional escorts. It's also possible that he worked at one time for one of the fly-by-night agencies.

[Guest Sports]

Charlie,

You don't check Premier's website enough. He worked for Premier for quite a long time and he has several reviews on this site. If the escort's age listed in the article is correct, he may have been underaged when he started escorting for Premier.

Charlie, you should do some research before you start trashing other organizations and try not to be such an obvious apologist for Premier.

[OneFinger]

>...he has several reviews on this site.

 

What name is he reviewed under on this site? I just went to the Philly reviews and couldn't easily find him. I "assume" he wasn't using his real name. ;-)

[jackhammer91406]

Onefinger,

I had no trouble finding him in the Philly section on this site, with only his pic as reference. In fact, the sweatshirt he wears in the news story is the same one he is wearing in the review pic. i will not name him for you, but you will have only to go into the section a few letters into the alphabet to find him. Based on a rough computation it seems likely he was underage at the time of his first reviews.

[marc anthony]

Based on a rough computation it seems

>likely he was underage at the time of his first reviews.

 

 

I have never used Premier... so I have no reason to defend them one way or another. Just pointing out that if this boy had just turned 18 in 9/01 when his first reviewed call took place, then he would be 19 at the time of his arrest.

 

Not necessarily underage, and very reasonable to conclude that he was not.

 

With all the crap Premier will take over this (whether justified or not), just don't think we need to speculate on another charge without real evidence.

[Huey]

The cloak and dagger stuff is silly. He is listed under the name Christian for those who care to read his reviews. And it's obviously he would have been underage at the time of his first review if the age stated in the article is correct .

 

One cannot blame Premier for the escort's sin, though one can blame Premier for apparently employing an underage escort. BTW: Legally speaking Premier placed every client who hired this guy in an illegal situation where the client could have been arrested for hiring this kid at the time he was underage.

 

This also reflects on the so-called safety factor of hiring an escort through any agency. It is a myth that people talk themselves into believing. Agencies do NOT check the background of their escorts past an ID. And if their is an agency out there that claims they do I say open your fucking books up so we can see your background checks.

 

Obviously I have very strong feelings about this issue.

[marc anthony]

>Obviously I have very strong feelings about this issue.

 

 

I agree with you 100% Huey... that it is horrible if any agency hires an underage kid. It places every client in jeopardy, as you pointed out. Not necessarily the best thing for the kid either.

 

However, in this case, I don't think we can conclude this happened. Many twink escorts begin their careers as soon as they turn 18... after all, they are finally legal, they are attractive, and they see the opportunity to make some $$$. If this escort in fact did this, he would not have been underage at the time of his first date (9/01). He could have, in fact, have had calls in August and been legal as well.

 

Don't know which is true, one way or another. Just pointing out that:

 

1) You are correct... underage escorting is a bad thing

2) There is no real evidence that this happened here.

[TotallyOz]

I agree with Marc on this one. I do not believe Premiere should get a bad rep because of what this boy did. They cannot be held responsible for the crime the boy did.

 

As for underage, if this was the case, and I hope it wasn't, it was a very bad decision made by someone that could bring serious consequences for the agency and their clients.

 

I can tell you that I know for a fact that Campus in NYC does background checks on all the boys it hires. I think this is due partly to the crowd of boys it attracts.

 

I also know of other agencies that have relied upon ID's without a verification of the validity of the ID and gotten into trouble with this.

 

I think Premiere has a good group of boys and I have used them in the past and will again in the future. Lets give them the benefit of the doubt until we hear otherwise.

[TotallyOz]

I agree with Marc on this one. I do not believe Premiere should get a bad rep because of what this boy did. They cannot be held responsible for the crime the boy did.

 

As for underage, if this was the case, and I hope it wasn't, it was a very bad decision made by someone that could bring serious consequences for the agency and their clients.

 

I can tell you that I know for a fact that Campus in NYC does background checks on all the boys it hires. I think this is due partly to the crowd of boys it attracts.

 

I also know of other agencies that have relied upon ID's without a verification of the validity of the ID and gotten into trouble with this.

 

I think Premiere has a good group of boys and I have used them in the past and will again in the future. Lets give them the benefit of the doubt until we hear otherwise.

[jackhammer91406]

Huey,

I wasn't trying to add to the mystery at all. There was another time when there was thread which affected the reputation of an escort, and I named the escort in question, when the OP did not. My post was deleted which led to a big discussion about censorship and a lot of other stuff (which woodlawn has elaborated on at length). Mindful of the last experience, I did not name the escort, but he was easy enough to find.

I do not blame the agency for what this young man did. Not at all. As for the age, since his first review details a date in Sept. of 2001 at 18, and his recent arrest at age 19, the possibility exists that he was working as a minor. That's all I was saying.

[jackhammer91406]

Huey,

I wasn't trying to add to the mystery at all. There was another time when there was thread which affected the reputation of an escort, and I named the escort in question, when the OP did not. My post was deleted which led to a big discussion about censorship and a lot of other stuff (which woodlawn has elaborated on at length). Mindful of the last experience, I did not name the escort, but he was easy enough to find.

I do not blame the agency for what this young man did. Not at all. As for the age, since his first review details a date in Sept. of 2001 at 18, and his recent arrest at age 19, the possibility exists that he was working as a minor. That's all I was saying.

[jasoncarter_dfw]

I can testify from first-hand experience that Premier does check out its employees, and Nick would never in a million years hire someone that was not legal to work in the United States. Premier pays all applicable city, state and federal taxes...therefore it is required to collect necesary identity information on its employees. This includes even verifying SSN's submitted by employees. As an escort, I have received 1099's that accurately reported my income, to the penny, from Premier every year I have been there...whether it was when I was in college in Philly or even now when I appear as a special guest. I can think of no other gentleman that truly cares more for his employees and looks out for them like Nick does.

 

- Jason Carter - Dallas, TX

- jason@sexyjasoncarter.com

- http://www.sexyjasoncarter.com

[jasoncarter_dfw]

I can testify from first-hand experience that Premier does check out its employees, and Nick would never in a million years hire someone that was not legal to work in the United States. Premier pays all applicable city, state and federal taxes...therefore it is required to collect necesary identity information on its employees. This includes even verifying SSN's submitted by employees. As an escort, I have received 1099's that accurately reported my income, to the penny, from Premier every year I have been there...whether it was when I was in college in Philly or even now when I appear as a special guest. I can think of no other gentleman that truly cares more for his employees and looks out for them like Nick does.

 

- Jason Carter - Dallas, TX

- jason@sexyjasoncarter.com

- http://www.sexyjasoncarter.com

[skins1]

But wouldn't you think it might bring unwanted attention to premier? You know the defense and prosecution will be looking into his background. do you think they will subpeona premier for records or testify about his character, etc...? who'd he meet? who'd he hang around with? did he have a "date" with someone that knew this guy he admitted to killing? will the police want to try and find out who hired "christian"? I mean these are legit questions.not that I am at all concerned b/c i have not used premier but you know. who knows maybe Im wrong. i don't know.

[skins1]

But wouldn't you think it might bring unwanted attention to premier? You know the defense and prosecution will be looking into his background. do you think they will subpeona premier for records or testify about his character, etc...? who'd he meet? who'd he hang around with? did he have a "date" with someone that knew this guy he admitted to killing? will the police want to try and find out who hired "christian"? I mean these are legit questions.not that I am at all concerned b/c i have not used premier but you know. who knows maybe Im wrong. i don't know.

[jackhammer91406]

Jason

Your word is good enough for me. As I said, I don't blame the agency for this guy and I have no doubt that all the good things I have read on here about premier are true. Sad to see this kind of thing happen.

[jackhammer91406]

Jason

Your word is good enough for me. As I said, I don't blame the agency for this guy and I have no doubt that all the good things I have read on here about premier are true. Sad to see this kind of thing happen.

[TotallyOz]

If Premiere is smart, they wouldn't have those kind of records. If they do, then it would be a very fucked up situation. Some agencies have a policy of keeping records for each call a boy does. Others do not. I would hope that Premiere is smart enough not to know the details of who he saw and when.

 

Then, I would guess that Nick would be called in to be questioned and possibly as a witness for one side or another. But, that is his job. His job is to protect his clients and the boys!

[TotallyOz]

If Premiere is smart, they wouldn't have those kind of records. If they do, then it would be a very fucked up situation. Some agencies have a policy of keeping records for each call a boy does. Others do not. I would hope that Premiere is smart enough not to know the details of who he saw and when.

 

Then, I would guess that Nick would be called in to be questioned and possibly as a witness for one side or another. But, that is his job. His job is to protect his clients and the boys!

[Huey]

Jack I do remember that thread the topic was quite a bit different though I can understand why you were hesitant. I think the difference is this is a very public situation where facts are known while the other topic was more innuendo, if I remember properly.

 

James I don't think anyone in this thread has said the Nick isn't a nice guy or anything bad about him personally. There have been suggestions about his business practices. BTW ironically your post proves the point of another poster and I hope that TotallyOZ who I respect quite a bit reads this. Another poster mentions that police or others might subpena the agency records ... OZ felt the agency wouldn't keep records, how can someone do a 1099, pay taxes without keeping records?

 

Marc I tend to agree with you my assumption that he was underage when hired was just that. When I re-did the math he could have been a fresh legal twink. He also could have presented a false ID.

 

OZ I would love to see Campus Escorts background checks. Let them open their books for inspection. For that matter any escort agency. All these places claim not to keep records or delete everything, I simply don't believe tht general contact info is deleted. Are you on Campus' mailing list? Are you one of the people contacted by the SDPD when Man to Man had legal issues about a year ago?

 

Guys just to clarify I don't hold Nick or Premier responsible in any form for what this guy did. As in any profession there will be bad apples, this guy was one of them. He could have just as easily been working for Campus or that agency in DC and the outcome would have been the same. Not only is the kid a sick, twisted fool for killing this man as he admits to doing, look what he did with the money ... he buys a car for cash then oes on vacation ... not the brightest bulb on this planet.

 

It would be nice to read what Nick has to say about the situation. I'm sure after dealing with this kid for nearly 2 years he must have some insight. Nick is a bit too quiet.

 

Anyway, since I am so emotional about this situation I feel it best I don't comment further. If I do then HooBoy will probably click his heals and zap me from here .

 

On a much lighter note I guess HooBoy could put up one of those "no longer escorting" tags next to his name, or bring back the man with the gun image .

[TotallyOz]

>OZ I would love to see Campus Escorts background checks. Let

>them open their books for inspection. For that matter any

>escort agency. All these places claim not to keep records or

>delete everything, I simply don't believe tht general contact

>info is deleted. Are you on Campus' mailing list? Are you one

>of the people contacted by the SDPD when Man to Man had legal

>issues about a year ago?

 

I am sure that you may not believe me when I tell you this. Why would you? However, I know that before the service changed owners that contact information was not kept for over one week at a time. The only exceptions to this was credit card customers. Those are kept by every Merchant who does business by Credit Card. Thus, the reason I always pay in cash where ever I go.

 

On another note, thank goodness the boys in Montreal don't keep records either. If they kept my name and address for every boy I gave a tip to on the stage or in the back room, I think I would be put on the 10 most wanted list.

 

All that being said, Huey, I understand you apprehensions with services. I guess I have always felt safe with them if they were good and reliable.

 

Lastly, best of luck to Nick at Premiere in dealing with all of this.

 

And, even though I had used Man to Man, I did't get any phone call or e-mail from anyone regarding the situation.