Former Prosecutor Accused Of Running Prostitution Ring
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A former federal prosecutor who until this week had defended American soldiers accused of abusing and killing Iraqis helped run a prostitution ring out of a Lower Manhattan nightclub, an indictment unsealed yesterday alleges.
Paul Bergrin, who spent seven years as a New Jersey local and federal prosecutor, allegedly took over the NY Confidential escort service when the self-described “king of all pimps” Jason Itzler was arrested in 2005.
Mr. Bergrin helped launder more than $800,000 in credit card payments for “escorts” who often cost $1,000 an hour, the district attorney of Manhattan, Robert Morgenthau, said.
The assistant district attorney who is prosecuting the case, Eugene Hurley, said Mr. Bergrin himself often received sexual services from the prostitutes.
The indictment also accuses a law student, James Cortopassi, and a former New Jersey state trooper, Hiram Ortiz, of participating in the scheme. Mr. Ortiz is accused of booking clients’ dates with prostitutes.
A military lawyer, Mr. Bergrin represented Sergeant Javal Davis, who was charged with prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in 2004. Davis pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a few months in jail.
If convicted, Mr. Bergrin could face decades in prison.
Prosecutors also said Mr. Bergrin falsely told New Jersey parole officers that Itzler — a former client on parole from a 2001 ecstasy-smuggling conviction — was a paralegal in the Abu Ghraib defense case so Itzler could receive a more lenient curfew. In fact, prosecutors allege, Itzler was helping to manage the brothel until late in the morning, not doing legal work.
Itzler pleaded guilty last year to charges connected with prostitution, and he is to be sentenced today to up to three years in prison.
Messrs. Ortiz and Bergrin are being held in New Jersey in lieu of $500,000 bail. They haven’t waived extradition, Mr. Morgenthau said, and Mr. Cortopassi will surrender soon. None of their lawyers could be reached for comment.
Mr. Bergrin, who represented a client in a New Jersey court as recently as Monday, had been scheduled next week to represent a soldier, Army Private Corey Clagett, who is accused of murdering Iraqis.
“So that guy’s going to have to get another lawyer,” Mr. Morgenthau said.
