Operator of Spitzer's Prostitution Ring Pleads Guilty

The operator of a prostitution ring that counted Governor Spitzer among its clients pleaded guilty yesterday in a criminal probe that put his company out of business and forced the governor to resign.

Mark Brener, 62, of Cliffside Park, N.J., became the third of four defendants to plead guilty in the case.

Mr. Brener, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a prostitution offense and conspiracy to commit money laundering, agreed yesterday to serve between 2 and 21/2 years in prison. He will be sentenced on September 16. Mr. Brener's plea agreement does not require him to cooperate, his lawyer, Murray Richman, said, adding that he did not believe Mr. Brener knew Mr. Spitzer was a customer of the Emperors Club VIP escort service.

Mr. Brener said they used cell phones and e-mail to manage the operation and sometimes arranged for women to travel from state to state to engage in prostitution.

"I knew that my involvement with this business was wrong and illegal," he told the judge.