Police say dance studio was prostitution front

A Prospect Heights dance studio served as a front for a prostitution operation and now faces a permanent shut down after a joint investigation by the Cook County Sheriff's Department and Prospect Heights Police, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart and Chief Bruce Morris said Wednesday.

The investigation came as a result of numerous complaints received by Prospect Heights police. In early March, the department requested assistance from the sheriff's police, authorities said.

New Dance Expressions, 65 E. Palatine Road, was raided late Tuesday and two female employees were arrested on charges of prostitution after a monthlong investigation, authorities said.

Police charged Veronica Rodriguez, 21, of the 1100 block of Hecker Court, Elgin, with two counts of prostitution, and Marisol Rodriguez, 37, of the 8100 block of N. Odell in Niles, with one count of prostitution. The two are not related, police said.

Visitors would pay $80 to enter the building and were then led to a private room where they were supposed to get a private dance from a female employee, police said. Instead, on multiple occasions, undercover officers were offered sex in exchange for cash, police said.

Police gave this account of Tuesday's events:

Around 10:30 p.m., an undercover officer was led to a backroom where he was met by Veronica Rodriguez. She offered to have sex with the officer in exchange for $1,200. After a brief conversation, Rodriguez brought in another female employee, Marisol Rodriguez, 37, of Niles.

Veronica Rodriguez told the officer he could have sex with both of them for $2,400. The officer produced his credit card and Veronica Rodriguez said she would charge $2,400 to it. At that point, the officer signaled backup officers.

The women posted bond and are to appear April 29 in Rolling Meadows.