Guilty pleas in the federal prostitution case that led to former Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s downfall are imminent, with some possible Wednesday, according to a legal source familiar with the case.
The source, who didn’t want to be identified because of the evolving nature of the investigation, said that by next Wednesday all of the four pending criminal cases should be wrapped up.
The four people arrested in March and accused of being part of an international call girl ring that supplied women to Spitzer and other customers have been in plea negotiations with prosecutors since that time, according to court records and defense attorneys familiar with the case.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment Tuesday.
It was still unclear whether Spitzer himself would face any charges. He was identified as "Client 9" of the prostitution ring in the initial criminal complaint filed in the case on March 5. Spitzer’s alleged use of the New York-area prostitution services in Washington could violate the federal Mann Act, which bars interstate transportation for prostitution. He also is reportedly being investigated for other possible offenses.
The man officials say is the leader of the sex ring, Mark Brener, 62, has been in jail since March. His defense attorney, Murray Richman, said yesterday that he and federal prosecutors were working on a plea.
"We are moving forward to a disposition," said Richman, adding that any plea deal wouldn’t require Brener to cooperate with the continuing investigation. Brener probably will have to plead guilty to a money laundering offense.
Attorneys for three others charged with prostitution-related offenses in the case - Temeka Rachelle Lewis, 32, Cecil Suwal, 23, and Tanya Hollander, 36, - didn’t return telephone calls and e-mails seeking comment.
The alleged prostitute involved with Spitzer, Ashley Alexandra Dupre, has not been charged in the case and has cooperated with authorities.
Court records on file in federal court in Manhattan show that prosecutors have been given a number of extensions of the normal 30-day period in which to seek an indictment. That time period is 10 days in the case of a jailed defendant like Brener.
From the time the case first broke in March, there has been speculation about Spitzer’s legal fate in the case. But attorneys representing some of the women who worked for the prostitution ring said that aside from being shown a photograph of the former governor, who resigned March 12, their clients have not been asked any significant questions about him.
Brandy Bergman, a spokeswoman for Spitzer, declined to comment about the case Tuesday.
Legal experts note that federal prosecutors generally have five years to seek an indictment so they wouldn’t have to rush to bring a case against Spitzer. But the experts also note that federal prosecutors rarely bring Mann Act cases against customers of interstate prostitution rings.
Still, Spitzer has reportedly been under investigation to see whether he used any state campaign funds to finance out-of-town trips and hotel stays in which he met with prostitutes.
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