‘Brains’ of Emperor V.I.P. Club To Plead Guilty

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The New York Sun

A woman accused of helping run the prostitution ring patronized by New York’s disgraced ex-governor plans to plead guilty today, her lawyer said.

Prosecutors said Cecil Suwal, 23, was one of the brains behind the Emperors Club V.I.P. escort service. A graduate of a prestigious New Jersey prep school, Ms. Suwal was accused of supervising the company’s booking agents, paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars to prostitutes, and controlling shell companies used to hide the ring’s profits.

Her attorney, Alberto Ebanks, said Ms. Suwal plans to plead guilty to a money-laundering conspiracy charge and to conspiring to violate federal prostitution laws. A court hearing was scheduled for 4 p.m.

“This is the first step in the process of putting this chapter of her life behind her,” Mr. Ebanks said in a statement. “She deeply regrets her actions. She is remorseful. She is contrite and she is determined to right her wrongs in a manner that is fair and just.”

Ms. Suwal would become the second person to plead guilty in the case. A booking agent for the escort service, Temeka Lewis, pleaded guilty to similar charges in May.

One of the dates Lewis allegedly arranged was between a prostitute with the pseudonym Kristen and a man identified in court papers as “Client-9,” later revealed to be Governor Spitzer.

The pair’s February 13 rendezvous at Washington D.C. was monitored by federal law enforcement.

Mr. Spitzer hasn’t been charged in the case, but he apologized and resigned on March 12, shortly after the case became public. Prosecutors have declined to say whether he might face criminal charges.

Two other defendants remain in the case. Tanya Hollander, who, like Lewis, was accused of being a booking agent, pleaded innocent, but has been negotiating a possible plea bargain, according to her attorney.

Mark Brener, who prosecutors accuse of being the leader of the ring, has also pleaded innocent and is awaiting trial. Brener, 62, lived with Suwal in New Jersey.

Prosecutors have declined to say whether they intend to charge Mr. Spitzer with breaking any federal laws.


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