Spitzer Call Girl Booker Pleads Guilty

Faces Federal Charges Of Promoting Prostitution And Money Laundering

(AP)  A woman accused of booking clients for a high-priced call girl ring pleaded guilty Wednesday in the federal probe that brought down "Client No. 9," former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Temeka Rachelle Lewis, 32, entered the pleas to federal charges of promoting prostitution and money laundering. She's among four defendants in the case involving the Emperor's Club VIP.

The FBI secretly recorded conversations between Lewis and Spitzer about a Feb. 13 tryst with a prostitute named "Kristen" in Washington, according to court papers.

Spitzer announced his resignation March 12. He has not been charged.

Lewis, who lives in Brooklyn, faces up to 25 years in prison when sentenced Aug. 10 but her term could be much lower under federal sentencing guidelines.

The other defendants in the case are Mark Brener, 62, of Cliffside Park, N.J., who is accused of running the ring; Tanya Hollander, 36, of Rhinebeck, N.Y.; and Cecil Suwal, 23, who lives with Brener.

The investigation into the high-end ring apparently began last year as a routine financial probe by the Internal Revenue Service. The investigation was referred to the U.S. attorney's office last fall.

Investigators say the ring made more than $1 million. A three-diamond prostitute cost $1,000 per hour; a seven-diamond prostitute could fetch $3,100 and the highest paid, $5,500 an hour, authorities said.

The bookers arranged meetings between clients and more than 50 prostitutes in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris, prosecutors said.

Conversations were recorded about "Client 9," including one saying Kristen should take a train from New York to Washington for a tryst the night before Valentine's Day, according to an affidavit. Spitzer, who is married, allegedly paid $4,300 for her services.

Investigators called Spitzer a repeat customer who spent tens of thousands of dollars on trysts with prostitutes. The scion of a Manhattan real estate developer, Spitzer reported $1.9 million in income to the IRS in 2006.

Spitzer, who was New York's attorney general before he became governor, built a reputation on Wall Street as a crusader against shady practices and overly generous compensation.

Spitzer and his wife, Silda, have three teenage daughters.

[keithle1]

You have to go to the moon to get away from Christians & Jesus freaks shoving their precious Holy Bible down your throat.

Other than s e x, what do men need young women for?
Intellectual conversation? Someone to go shopping with?

[johnstossel]

They just nwant to charge this girl ''cos they didn''t get a cut!!!

[pfd572]

If Spitzer isn''t indicted after the hounding and suicide of Ms. Palfrey and any prison term for this defendant then we have another blatant example of the good ol'' boys club protecting its own. It make me just furious that the customers who are also breaking the law are given walks. Spitzer didn''t even help with testifying, he just gets away with it.

[pfd572]

shahzad: how sad for you. At least here we have the Bill of Rights. So you can make racist and intolerant comments just like everyone else. The original immigrants to this country came here for religious freedom, something fundamentalist countries should consider and learn from.

[stn_sage]

C''MON! Promoting prostitution and money laundering?!
For taking calls?! I dunno---it looks like the ''state''
is trying to make her the ''sacrificial goat'', so they don''t have to pursue ''Clients *** to whatever''! Who, all seem to be prominent, connected, wealthy males!

If you''re going to go ''light'' on them, then the state should go light on her, too! Fair''s fair!

[pfd572]

Gee, I wonder how much time Spitzer will get for breaking the law? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[crazy_delco]

If she had filled a 1099, do you think this would have come to light...LMAO!

[culturechang]

Selective enforcement is Bush''s middle name. He vangaurded the practice. He used to issue signing statements at the signing of legilsation that he was obligated to sign by saying that he disagreed and would not commit resources to enforcing that particular law.

Roach9703, she will effectively be charged with trafficking. Prostitution=Trafficking in Bush''s world. And it was the *** element that triggered action. If she had been a roofer using illegal immigrants and money laundering and mail fraud, she would still be on her merry way doing it again today.

[Syndicate]

How do charge this lady a let client no 9 and Miss Dupree walk? Sounds like selective enforcement to me. Which in my opinion is a far worse crime.

[roach9703]

The reason why it is up to 25 years was the financial stuff - money laundering, wire fraud, etc.
Do you really think that this lady will get 25 years?
I don''t think so.

[shanev137]

Great. Now give that wh~ore just as much time for breaking the law too.

[culturechang]

Anyone seen Osama Bin Laden lately?

[culturechang]

25 years for a moral crime. Wow! I have heard of child molestors and murders who got less time. A lot of time for a law that has not constitutional basis. How many lives will they ruin in the name of Christian morals?

Keep in mind, while federal authorities were pursuing this case, they had reason suspicion and cause to beleive that child molestation was going on in the Texas RLDS compound and had been for 4 years. They appearently prioritized prostitution over child molestation....and its backed up through the sentencing guidelines.

Isn''t great to see the good priorites being used in federal govt.

You can fool some of the people some of the time.....