A Biddeford man accused of bringing a woman in her late 50s from Maine to prostitute her in New Hampshire pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to a federal interstate pimping charge.

Leo Grondin, 48, was brought to U.S. District Court in Portland after being indicted last month by a grand jury on a felony charge of transporting an individual in interstate commerce with intent that she engage in prostitution.

Grondin had been in federal custody since his arrest on July 23, and Judge Nancy Torresen ordered him remain in custody while the case against him is pending.

Biddeford police got a tip in the case against Grondin on July 9 when the daughter of the woman in her 50s called to report that she had discovered emails about prostitution on her mother’s cellphone and that her mother admitted when confronted about the emails that Grondin was prostituting her and other women, according to court records.

Police tracked Grondin and the mother to a hotel in Dover, New Hampshire, on July 17 after discovering another online advertisement with Grondin’s phone number and a picture of the mother. Police took Grondin into custody there on an outstanding arrest warrant issued by New Hampshire authorities. The woman agreed to let police give her a ride back to Maine and tell them about the prostitution business, court records state.

Grondin faces 10 years in federal prison and a fine of as much as $250,000.

Scott Dolan can be reached at 791-6304 or at:

sdolan@pressherald.com

Twitter: @scottddolan

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