Deborah Jeane Palfrey was convicted Tuesday in federal court for running a prostitution ring catering to Washington’s political elite. Palfrey ran Pamela Martin and Associates escort service from 1193-2006, and described her business as a high-end erotic fantasy service. She denied having been involved in prostitution.
Palfrey, 52, was convicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on all counts she faced: money laundering, using the mail for illegal purposes and racketeering. The guilty verdict carries a maximum 55-year prison sentence.
Three of Palfrey's clients and 13 former employees from her escort service testified during the weeklong trial. Clients explained how they found the escort service, how often they called, what they were hoping for and whether they got it during their visits.
"When a man agrees to pay $250 for 90 minutes with a woman, what do most men expect in that time?" prosecutor Daniel Butler asked during closing arguments Monday. "In that context, it's pretty clear. Most men want sex."
But the trial concluded without revealing many new details about the escort service or its clients. Sen. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican, was among possible witnesses but did not take the stand. Neither did Randall L. Tobias, who resigned as a deputy secretary of state after acknowledging to ABC News that he used Palfrey's service for massages.
Palfrey’s defense attorney, Preston Burton, had argued that Palfrey was not responsible for what went on during appointments between the client and the escort. He compared Palfrey to a taxi dispatcher, who shouldn't be penalized for "the route the cab driver took."
Palfrey will remain free pending her sentencing July 24.
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