("DC Madam") Palfrey Convicted on Prostitution-Related Charges

[sabra]

Source: WP

Deborah Jeane Palfrey was convicted this afternoon of racketeering and other charges after a federal court jury determined that her upscale escort service was actually a front for prostitution.

Jurors deliberated less than eight hours before returning the verdicts against Palfrey, 52, who stood impassively, with her hands folded in front of her, as the decision was read. She will remain free pending her sentencing July 24.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Connelly urged U.S. District Judge James Robertson to lock Palfrey up immediately, arguing that the verdict will give the woman dubbed the D.C. Madam a motive to flee. But the judge, noting that Palfrey has never missed a court appearance, denied the request.

The jury heard four days of often tawdry testimony from employees and clients of Pamela Martin & Associates, the business that Palfrey ran until 2006. Palfrey, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, did not testify. The jury convicted her of all charges: one count of racketeering, two of using the mail for illegal purposes, and one of money laundering.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/15/AR2008041501564.html

[LSparkle]

1. Another Siegelman-style prosecution ... I'm surprised they didn't lock her up

She won't flee necessarily but she's gonna talk ... hopefully. (She once claimed
if she was going down, she was going to name names on the way ... )

[Mike Daniels]

4. Sorry to pop the bubble but there are no names

I bet that we've already seen the blockbuster names in this case.

Do you honestly think Palfrey would have kept quiet this long if she really had the goods on anyone of note who hadn't already been outed.

The reality of this is that the public isn't going to get outraged by low-level flunkies who've never been heard of outside of their families and office assignments.

[Ian David]

8. Aside from Diaperman and the "Shock-and-awe" guy, who else did she take down with her? n/t

[notadmblnd]

2. I thought Vitter was supposed to testify

anyone know what happened with that?

[underpants]

3. WOW there was NO coverage of this at all

Gee...wonder why not??? hmmmmm oh that's right the establishment in DC thinks it has a hot one with Obama's "bitter" comment

I posted last week or so that Vitter was supposed to testify :shrug:

[pitohui]

5. they didn't call him

i don't know if they called any of the johns

it would not have helped her case, it's pretty obvious that she was pimping these "escorts" and vitter could either tell the truth (that he paid for sex) or claim his fifth amendment right not to incriminate himself -- which his attorney already said he would do, so that he would not be providing any testimony either way

[Pharlo]

11. Well, maybe they were going to call him

because he didn't pay for sex. Maybe he just paid to get his diaper changed.

[Bozita]

6. I wonder what Eliot Spitzer thinks of this. David "Diaper Dandy" Vitter is still a Senator.

I guess it all Depends.

[Ian David]

7. Finally, our long, national nightmare is over! n/t

[NJCher]

9. I'm sad

I heard an interview with this woman on the radio--can't recall the show at the moment--but I echo the poster above who says this is another Siegelman case.

Cher

[NaturalHigh]

10. Gee, I feel safer now.

[Javaman]

12. I see she really spilled the beans, huh?

more media bullshit of baiting and switching.
"oh look at this shiny object!!! no not the spiegleman case, the sexy madam who promises to tell all!!! yes, that's it, you mouth breathing morons!"