Manager at bikini espresso stands charged with promoting prostitution

EVERETT — A Shoreline woman who was a pioneer in the multimillion-dollar business of running drive-through brothels at Snohomish County bikini-espresso stands is now charged with two counts of promoting prostitution.

Samantha Breanne Lancaster, 24, worked as a manager at Java Juggs stands and encouraged baristas to engage in sexual conduct in exchange for money, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Janice Albert said in court papers.

For $6, customers visiting the stands could get a cup of coffee and a “booty shake” from a barista wearing a bikini or lingerie.

If the customer was willing to pay more, however, Lancaster encouraged workers to put on “shows,” flashing their breasts and genitals and at times engaging in sex acts with customers and other baristas, the prosecutor wrote in Snohomish County Superior Court papers filed Tuesday.

“Lancaster not only knew of the lewd conduct and prostitution, she took part in, encouraged it, and promoted it,” Albert wrote. “Video from Snohomish County stands in May and June 2013 captured acts of lewdness and prostitution by Lancaster and others.”

Second-degree promotion of prostitution is a felony.

The allegations against Lancaster are part of a larger investigation that in 2013 snared the stands’ owner, Carmela Panico, and led to public corruption charges for a former sheriff’s sergeant.

Panico in September pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution and money laundering. She forfeited $250,000 cash seized in the investigation and walked away from her stands.

As part of the plea, Panico admitted her stands were drive-through brothels that brought her millions of dollars.

Darrell O’Neill, a former sheriff’s sergeant, is awaiting a February trial on allegations that he fed Panico and her employees information in exchange for sexual favors. He resigned not long after his arrest.

Baristas told detectives that Lancaster received information from O’Neill about police undercover investigations and she would warn workers when to be careful, Albert said.

“Lancaster and Panico let their baristas know that O’Neill was ‘dirty’ and on their side,” she wrote. “Baristas were told to be nice to him” and let him fondle them and engage them in other sexual conduct.

“The baristas said they were supposed to keep O’Neill happy,” the prosecutor added.

After her arrest in 2013, Lancaster spoke with investigators, explained how the business worked and “admitted to passing on O’Neill’s information about officers and investigations in order to be able to continue the stands’ activities,” Albert said.

Lancaster has no criminal history, but in 2009, at 18, she was among the baristas working for Bill Wheeler Sr. at a Grab-N-Go espresso stand in Everett. The stands made national headlines after Everett cops alleged the baristas were exposing themselves to customers in exchange for money. She faced no jail time, but unsuccessfully fought to block public records requests brought by people who wanted to see the risque photographs taken during the police investigation.

Lancaster moved on to work for Panico, and managed her stands from 2011 until 2013.

The city this month moved to seize control of the stands Panico formerly owned. Three have been operated since January by a company owned by Lancaster. They remain a nuisance.

“We are also aware that you and your employees continue to engage in the same illegal conduct,” that led to the stands being raided in 2013 assistant city attorney Ramsey Ramerman wrote the Shoreline woman earlier this month.

They told her she must be out of the stands this week.

Scott North: 425-339-3431; north@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snorthnews

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.