'Sexy Bella' Busted: Prostitution While On Probation
DENVER (CBS4) - A former corrections officer who was on probation for smuggling marijuana into the prisoners she was supposed to be guarding has now been busted again for allegedly acting as a prostitute while on probation.
Melinda Abruzzo was a guard at a private correctional facility in Adams County but was arrested in August 2012 and later convicted in 2013 of smuggling pot into inmates. She was placed on two years probation for the felony charge of introducing contraband, but a CBS4 investigation found that while she was regularly meeting with her probation officer, she was simultaneously acting as a prostitute, a charge Abruzzo now denies.
"I don't know anything about that," Abruzzo told CBS4 in a phone conversation. "I do massages ... never did any weird stuff."
But the investigation found multiple online ads featuring pictures of a scantily clad Abruzzo in come hither poses offering "Sensual and Deep Tissue Massage" for "Singles, Couples, Fantasy and more."
In the ads Abruzzo was called "Sexy Bella" and did not use her real name. One of the ads reads, "Let me show you the moon and stars blow your mind like no other ... I can make your legs shake and head spin. You will be drunk from the sensation and have amazing pleasure."
Another ad read, "Hi I am Bella. I am open to anything and can show you a good time. I'm a very experienced massage therapist and also can leave you with a 5 star surprise ..."
A price chart suggested her services cost $200 per hour.
In October 2014 the probation department somehow got wise to what Abruzzo was doing. In probation revocation documents, the department wrote, "The defendant violated (probation) … the defendant self-admitted to working as a prostitute. The defendant also self-admitted to posting advertisements on 'Craigslist' and 'Backpage.' "
The cellphone contact number to reach Sexy Bella in all the online ads was apparently the same cellphone number she gave to the probation department, which apparently had no clue to what was going on.
Rob McCallum, a public information officer for the Colorado Judicial Department, told CBS4 the probation department "is prohibited from discussing specific cases and individual treatment programs for probationers with the public or media. Due to confidentiality requirements, no one in the probation department is able to discuss Ms. Abruzzo's case, supervision or treatment."
In multiple conversations, Abruzzo's story changed. She initially said, "I don't remember those pictures." She later said a friend had taken the pictures but then posted the online ads without Abruzzo's knowledge or consent.
In yet another variation, Abruzzo admitted to posting the ads but said they were "not for sex." And then in a later conversation, Abruzzo said she had done some "S and M" for extra money ... it was nothing big," she said. "Some would beat me. I like S and M. Doesn't bother me."
But she continued to maintain she was not having sex with clients and that "the probation officer had it out for me."
Last month Abruzzo appeared in court to answer the latest charges. A Judge revoked her probation and then reinstated her probation for another two-year term.
CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass has been with the station more than 30 years uncovering waste, fraud and corruption. Follow him on Twitter @Briancbs4.