Married Physics Professor Accused of Running Elaborate Prostitution Web Ring

In a tale that has a few bizarre twists and turns, a New Jersey college professor has been arrested in New Mexico and accused of operating a prostitution website.

David Flory, who teaches physics at Fairleigh Dickinson University's campus in Teaneck, N.J, was arrested on Sunday at his vacation home in Albuquerque, N.M. Flory, a New York City resident, was detained on 40 counts of promoting prostitution.

Albuquerque Police Lt. William Roseman told The Record newspaper Flory's website, Southwest Companions, was designed to give users access to more women once they gained Flory's trust. The site allegedly offered 200 women up for more than 1,400 clients.

Roseman says Flory told police he didn't make money off of the website and saw it as a hobby. According to Mail Online, Flory said the site was designed as "a safe place for guys to find female prostitutes." Apparently, the professor was very discerning in his membership requirements:

According to police, Southwest Companions was run entirely by Flory, who designed three categories of membership, each of which had to be approved by him.

First-time visitors had to gain Flory's trust before they could access the website, police said.

They did this by sleeping with one of the girls, who allegedly reported back to Flory with details of payment and the sexual acts performed.

At this point members were classed as 'verified', and could access more of the site.

Only once they became frequent users were they upgraded to 'trusted' members, allowing them to view the whole site - including tips on how to avoid police. It was at that point that they could also write recaps of their experiences with the women and post the acts committed and associated costs.

Authorities had spent six months working diligently to figure out who was behind Southwest Companions. A prostitute assisted authorities in apprehending Flory and police hope that site users will turn themselves in.

A Fairleigh Dickinson University spokeswoman says the school was saddened by the arrest, but did not say if the professor has been suspended from his job.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.