Police say academics accused of running prostitution ring not motivated by cash

Police allegations of an academic-led prostitution ring are getting even stranger.

Just last Sunday, authorities arrested a 68-year-old Farleigh Dickinson University physics professor because they say he was one of seven leaders of a 200-strong prostitution ring in New Mexico, where he has a summer home. Now, Albuquerque police say Dr. David Flory had an even higher-profile accomplice: septuagenarian political science professor emeritus F. Chris Garcia, who used to be the interim president of the University of New Mexico.

Albuquerque police say Garcia's role was to solicit "talent" for the pair's web site, which was called Southwest Companions. According to The Albuquerque Journal, police believe Garcia wasn't motivated by money, but that he wanted to "provide a safe place for prostitution without risk of arrest." Flory, meanwhile, told police he also didn't run the site for money, but rather considered it a "hobby," according to the Associated Press. The site's more than 1,000 members paid anywhere between $200 for a sex act to $1,000 for an hour of a prostitute's time.

Flory is charged with 40 counts of promoting prostitution, while Garcia faces charges of promoting prostitution, tampering with evidence and conspiracy.

An employee at Farleigh Dickinson, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation at work, told the Lookout that the incident is a big PR blow for the university, which is still recovering from the revelation in 2005 that it employed a member of the pro-Nazi National Socialist Movement to teach European history.

"People jokingly refer to it as 'Farleigh Ridiculous,'" the employee said of the school's battered reputation.

The source described Flory as a "very opinionated guy, very sure of himself and sure of his opinions." He wore a large cowboy hat and cowboy boots, which made him stick out from the New Jersey academic crowd.

Fairleigh officials said in a statement they were "saddened" by the charges.

(Flory: AP/Albuquerque Police Department)