Local News in Brief : Husband, Wife Accused of Running Vice Ring

A husband and wife in Simi Valley have been arrested on suspicion of operating a prostitution ring that served 300 customers a month and netted as much as $150,000 a year, Los Angeles police said Friday.

Lonnie Lehman, 29, and Cindy Lehman, 30, were arrested on suspicion of pimping Wednesday and released the same day on $2,000 bail each, Officer Bob Weatherman said.

Cindy Lehman also was arrested on suspicion of pimping Sept. 26. The recent arrest of a prostitute in Van Nuys led police back to the couple, Weatherman said.

Cindy Lehman is expected to be charged in both arrests next week, Weatherman said.

Los Angeles and Simi Valley police searched the Lehmans’ residence in the 2600 block of Fallon Circle and found walkie-talkies, machines to make credit-card imprints and index cards detailing their clients’ credit records and sexual preferences, Weatherman said.

Cindy Lehman guided the operation, known as the Southern Comfort Escort Co., and her husband acted as a dispatcher, Weatherman said. He said Lonnie Lehman also checked each client’s MasterCard or Visa credit rating before each transaction.

“They don’t accept American Express,” Weatherman quipped. Checks and credit-card payments were made out to “Lehman and Lehman,” he said.