As I understand, seeing a provider in RI is legal for me and her.  My question is what would happen if I set up an appointment with an RI provider via a cell-phone from Boston.  Will it be a federal felony?

As I understand it, that only applies when the provider, not you, crosses a state line, so you should be OK.

On the other hand, I'll bet there's something in the Patriot Act that makes it illegal to use the federal airwaves for any type of illegal purpose (not that it is illegal in RI, but it is in Mass.); but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

(Still not a lawyer.)

Just make sure you are really in RI.
skb

The Mann Act was written in large to be able to easily prosecute sexual predators who participated in the "sexual slave trade" and who utilized under aged participants, especially against their will.

Although not normally used for regular stings, technically you would fall afoul of the Mann Act if you called a provider from Boston and then went to Rhode Island to perform the act.

Suggestion: Use a pay phone to set up meeting.

The Mann Act criminalized the transport of "any woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery . . . or for any other immoral purpose".  The law doesn’t say anything about arranging a meeting telephonically across state lines.  You are reading something into the law that is not there.

if you use the telephone interstate to arrange an illegal prostitution activity in Rhode Island.

-- Modified on 12/9/2008 6:33:48 PM

sex in Massachusetts, he would violate the state solicitation statute even if the conduct was legal in the state where the act would be carried out.