NEW YORK, March 6, 2008

A Ratings Guide For Pricey Prostitutes?

International Prostitution Ring Exposed, Gave Up To "7-Diamond" Ratings To Call Girls

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(AP)  Four people have been arrested and accused of organizing a prostitution ring that charged wealthy clients in Europe and the U.S. thousands of dollars for prostitutes rated by diamonds.

The conspiracy charges against the man and three women accuse them of running the Emperors Club VIP ring from at least December 2004, U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said Thursday.

On its Web site, the company displays photographs of the prostitutes' bodies, with their faces hidden, along with hourly rates depending on whether the prostitutes were rated with one diamond, the lowest ranking, or seven diamonds, the highest.

A three-diamond prostitute would cost $1,000 per hour, while the Icon Club allowed access to the most highly ranked prostitutes at $5,500 an hour, prosecutors said.

Authorities said the defendants arranged connections between wealthy men and more than 50 prostitutes in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris.

All four were charged with conspiracy to violate federal prostitution laws: Mark Brener, 62, and Cecil Suwal, 23, who live together in Cliffside Park, New Jersey; Temeka Rachelle Lewis, 32, of Brooklyn; and Tanya Hollander, 36, of Rhinebeck, New York.

Brener, accused of being the leader and recruiter of the prostitutes, and Suwal, accused of controlling the operation's bank accounts, also were charged with conspiracy to launder more than $1 million in illicit proceeds.

Lewis and Hollander were accused of arranging meetings between prostitutes and clients. They were released late Thursday on $250,000 bail each.

Hollander's lawyer, Mary Mulligan, said her client "leads a quiet life." Lewis's lawyer, Daniel Gordon, declined to comment.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael H. Dolinger ordered that Brener be held without bail after prosecutors said $600,000 in cash and an Israeli passport were found in his apartment.

Brener's lawyer, Jennifer Brown, said her client was a U.S. citizen who had lived in the United States for 20 years.

Suwal was not immediately able to post her $500,000 bail. Her lawyer, Daniel Parker, said she denies the charges.

"We're going to conduct a thorough investigation into the charges," he said. "At the end of the day, we think she'll be completely vindicated."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Stein said he believed the arrests shut down the ring.

In a criminal complaint, FBI agent Kenneth Hosey said clients were told a wire transfer to the Emperors Club would be identified as QAT Consulting to appear to be a business transaction.

Hosey said the defendants earned more than $1 million illegally through the business.

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Add a Comment See all 33 Comments
by blackbug99 March 6, 2008 3:51 PM PST
Now here''s a story that could have used some pictures.
Reply to this comment
by ov442 March 6, 2008 4:21 PM PST
I wanna see the list of clients. I will bet you anything you''ll see a load of high paid republicans all pounding thier bibles standing on a soapbox decrying sins of other people.
If caught, all would cry publicly with their abused wives standing next to them beaten into their heads to never leave their husbands even though they knew they''ve been getting cheated on for decades.
Reply to this comment
by antoniof123 March 6, 2008 4:21 PM PST
Now here''''s a story that could have used some pictures.

Posted by Blackbug99 at 03:51 PM : Mar 06, 2008

agreed
Reply to this comment
by bm6005 March 6, 2008 4:23 PM PST
Here''s what the rich do with their money? Aren''t you conservatives proud of those you worship!
Reply to this comment
by excoachken March 6, 2008 4:31 PM PST
But, are they listed as scenic "natural" wonders on the GPS?
Reply to this comment
by gunownerdan March 6, 2008 4:37 PM PST
Legalize prostitution.
Plain and simple.
Legal prostitution will save lives and make it safer for all involved.
The world''s oldest profession will never go away just because it''s prohibited.
Keeping it illegal just makes it much more dangerous for prostitutes and their customers by making them take to the streets and forcing them to ignore the fact that there are a lot of STD''s out there today!
Reply to this comment
by hambonehd March 6, 2008 4:43 PM PST
gunownerdan

Hell yea! And, in addition spend our tax dollars on fighting real crime and catching real criminals.!!
What a frigging waste of time and effort..!
Of course, how much of that do we see today!
Reply to this comment
by billpl-2009 March 6, 2008 4:45 PM PST
They get paid how much!?!

...I''ve been wanting my wife to go back to work for quite a while.

wonder what good MILF''s go for?


(just kidding)
Reply to this comment
by byeneocons March 6, 2008 5:19 PM PST
I wonder how much the "Family Values Abstinence Senator David Vitter" paid for his hooker? I''ll be she wasn''t a Seven Stars.
Reply to this comment
by closethippy1 March 6, 2008 5:46 PM PST
This is aweful, aweful news. How can it be?!!!
How can it be that our law enforcement agencies are wasting time and money running after adults who want to get laid???
I have always said the best way for people to hide their faults is to accuse others of having them, and that''s why prostitution and some drugs are illegal. Just so these politicians, and church and community leaders, and the rest of that bunch can point their fingers at others and proclaim their own holy value, while they indulge in the same stuff many of them when they visit other countries where no one is keeping an eye on them.
This is hypocrysy of epic proportions and a tragedy for millions of people who have to pay a dear price just so our lawmakers and their cheerleaders end up looking good.
Reply to this comment
by closethippy1 March 6, 2008 6:00 PM PST
They do in Germany - they also get checked on a monthly basis for health...but I don''''t think it''''d eliminate it - it''''d just make the ones who do it for drugs charge less...just like legalizing drugs? Same concept - alcohol is legal, but people still have ''''stills'''' for moonshine and the like...if you legalize anything, you just get a knock off product for less? just pondering the topic - I''''m not well versed (Thank goodness! LOL)
Posted by sbbm at 05:50 PM : Mar 06, 2008

Sir, the goal here is not to eliminate anything but to have a more humane approach to the problem. We already have in the US 2.3 million people in jail. That''s 25% of the world prison population.
These things need to be regulated like everything else in life to prevent abuse. That''s all.
Reply to this comment
by Syndicate March 6, 2008 6:07 PM PST
Federal Prostitution laws? Then how can Nevada Have prostitutes. Further more where in the Constitution does it grant the federal Government the power to regulate prostitution. If a woman has the right to an abortion because of privacy why does a women not have a right to privacy in acepting payment for services performed?
Reply to this comment
by jaykay3141 March 6, 2008 6:09 PM PST
Hmmm... if prostitutes are organized, who represents them? Could you stretch the name "Communications Workers"? Somehow "Teamsters" just doesn''t seem right. And how could we Look For the Union Label?

But seriously, this just shows how the pols think (or whatever it is they do that approximates cogitation). Get everybody fired up about acts between consenting adults, claim you''re protecting American values, pander to the Bible-thumpers by looking like you''re actually doing something. That''ll get everybody riled up so they''ll ignore our kids getting shot in Iraq, $4 gas, outsourcing, shredding the Constitution ...
Reply to this comment
by greybeardvet March 6, 2008 6:21 PM PST
$3,000 for an hour of work! These gals must be Republican CEO''s, oh, wait a minute, that''s who they are servicing. By the way, what does a Family Values guy like Senator Vitter do if he knocks up a ***? Does he adopt the baby, abort it, or call it a tax deduction?
Reply to this comment
by frankbowers March 6, 2008 6:38 PM PST
Lets us see now the RNC, the US. AG''s office, with the FBI''s and those who wanted there in the Whitehouse for the past 6 years have been listening I wander what their kick backs were money or their choice for an hour I bet Laura sssssssssssssurely does not know. The best of good bys Frank Bowers in Austin, TX
Reply to this comment
by dylanxxv March 6, 2008 7:22 PM PST
Prostitutes are evil...They must be locked away from society for selling that glorious snatch...
Don''t the powers that be have anything else to do? Like going after peeps who commit REAL crimes?
Reply to this comment
by keithle1 March 6, 2008 8:50 PM PST
If the bootay was easily accessible, men wouldn''t need to pay for IT. If you''re no longer a virgin, sleep with a man NOW. Even if he''s not Prince William or George Clooney. DO IT. You''re a straight woman, right? Then have s e x!
Reply to this comment
by spinster2 March 6, 2008 8:53 PM PST
$3000 and "hour". I didn''t know diomonds could go that high.
Reply to this comment
by dylanxxv March 7, 2008 12:21 AM PST
sweetreeeed...Let me guess...Your either a *** or your on some killer acid?
Reply to this comment
by dylanxxv March 7, 2008 12:23 AM PST
reeeee ****...
Reply to this comment
by watcher269-2009 March 7, 2008 1:39 AM PST
Now you know where most of the Hailburton Profits are going and why Cheney needs a team of doctors with him where ever he travels!
Reply to this comment
by keithle1 March 7, 2008 2:50 AM PST
Men need to stick it in a different hole every now & then. Do you want to eat chicken every night for the rest of your life?

Take away the male *** drive & how much do men really need or want women? Other than to have their kids of course. The only power women have over men is sexual. Once they lose their *** appeal and are too old to have kids, what power do women have?
Reply to this comment
by cpaide March 7, 2008 3:19 AM PST
i know a NEGATIVE 7 diamond prostitute who makes more than that--billary clinton? are you there?
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 March 7, 2008 3:45 AM PST
"what power do women have?" Posted by Keithle1

I have several women friends that could beat any average sized man in a fight, the days when women were considered to be the "weaker" gender ended in your parent''s day, and it wasn''t even true then. I doubt if men could endure having a baby, we have trouble with a large stool.

Female CEOs can determine your job status, female stockholders can also determine that, and a female, Margaret Thatcher, determined that men would die in the Malvinas. Even before her, (a few minutes anyway) queens, empresses, and pharoahs ruled the lives of entire cultures.

Not to forget that the vast majority of people raised by a single parent were raised by the mother suggests that females deal with economic stresses better than men.
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 March 7, 2008 5:09 AM PST
Posted by Keithle1

And if you really want to know about power, divorce one, you will find her to be much more costly than that, and you won''t be "getting anymore" but you will still be paying.

You want to talk power?
Reply to this comment
by bobgee_1999 March 7, 2008 6:51 AM PST
"Men" who drivel on about the mystique of women are merely chauvinists with low self-esteem, to be lead around by their inadequacies.
Reply to this comment
by leftyintexas March 7, 2008 9:41 AM PST
i know a NEGATIVE 7 diamond prostitute who makes more than that--billary clinton? are you there?

Posted by cpaide at 03:19 AM : Mar 07, 2008

I see another bushie moron has added his two cents worth. Only 319 days left! Enjoy!
Reply to this comment
by klingon69 March 7, 2008 11:12 AM PST
"A ratings guide for pricey prostitutes?"

Now if those ratings were in Consumer Reports, then it would actually be worth subscribing to!

Perhaps it''''s just me, those red dots that describes "excellent" ratings on Consumer Reports...

...do they look like nipplles or what?!
Posted by USAyesterday at 12:49 AM : Mar 07, 2008
Oh, you got it bad...go out, find someone, have ***...maybe even see some real nipples.
Reply to this comment
by guysdigdirt March 7, 2008 2:30 PM PST
Take away the male *** drive & how much do men really need or want women? Other than to have their kids of course. The only power women have over men is sexual. Once they lose their *** appeal and are too old to have kids, what power do women have?
Posted by Keithle1

A true asset to the male ***. Thank you richard cranium.
Reply to this comment
by guysdigdirt March 7, 2008 2:32 PM PST
i know a NEGATIVE 7 diamond prostitute who makes more than that--billary clinton? are you there?

Posted by cpaide at 03:19 AM : Mar 07, 2008

I see another bushie moron has added his two cents worth. Only 319 days left! Enjoy!
Posted by leftyintexas

Had to make it political didn''t you. thank you very much.
Reply to this comment
by andyli1004 March 8, 2008 3:21 AM PST
Even before her, (a few minutes anyway) queens, empresses, and pharoahs ruled the lives of entire cultures. Internet is a good place to share information and meet friends. I

recently found a nice web site called pubspa.com where you can meet

friends who have same interest in beauty care, massage, wellness and

spa treatment. You can also share blog, video, game, photos, etc with

people from all over the world. Unlike other online dating sites where

you have to pay membership fee, this site is totally free. I already

made several interesting friends there.
Reply to this comment
by carpriddler March 10, 2008 8:01 PM PDT
I will make a prediction. He is going to do something very stupid to show that he is really a moral family guy, and not the ***********. He has been living a lie for a long time, and getting away with it.
Reply to this comment
by surefirewinr March 10, 2008 10:37 PM PDT
Look closely at his dress shirt and you''ll see the outline of a nipple ring. Could a leather mask, bare assed leather pants and locker-room sniffing be far behind? Truly a man of the people (West Village, that is.)
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