Man charged with running Billings prostitution scheme

BILLINGS (AP) – A California man is charged with running a prostitution scheme in Billings.

The Billings Gazette reports 38-year-old Taj Tesfaye Hayes appeared in Yellowstone County Justice Court by video on Tuesday, where he was charged with promoting prostitution. His bail was set at $25,000, and Hayes was ordered to appear in District Court on April 7 to enter a plea.

Court records say a Montana Division of Criminal Investigation agent responded to an ad in the adult escort section of an unnamed publication last Friday. He texted the phone number, agreed to a $150 price for 30 minutes and was told to go to a local hotel.

Agents arrested the woman and Hayes, who paid for the hotel room. Prosecutors say agents called the number in the advertisement and a phone Hayes was carrying rang.