Update on the Myredbook Saga

There are no updates in the news, so I figured I would check PACER for information. Apparently, Annmarie Lanoce made a plea in the myredbook case on November 20, 2014, and now Eric Omuro will be doing the same.

Annmarie Lanoce appeared in court and made a guilty plea to one count of the indictment. She has a plea agreement; however, it is not accessible in PACER to the public as most plea agreements are not, especially when they involve agreement to testify against a co-defendant. Here is the short change of plea court minutes:

Lanoce Annmarie Plea Change Nov 20 2014

This resulted in Eric Omuro also entering a change of plea in the case in short time (December 1, 2014). Here is a link to the stipulation that gives him an additional week before entering this plea change so there's time to examine the discovery more closely and/or work out a better deal:

Omuro Eric Stipulation Dec  1 2014

Hopefully Mr. Omuro will not be sentenced to any time in prison. I will check PACER again in short time to see a sentencing date. Annmarie Lanoce has a sentencing date, but it will be changed if Eric Omuro has not entered a plea in the case. This is done to secure her testimony should Omuro decide to go ahead to trial.

*sigh*

Are You Awake Yet

Have you been operating your escort business in the sunshine as advised in the book? I sure hope so. The only reason that I still exist is because I never make any statement anywhere that I couldn't explain to a jury if I had to one day.

Someone - one of those many that wanted a consultation with me recently - stated that my case was irrelevant today. Actually it is more relevant than it has ever been. I suffered through many years of illegal surveillance and harassment by an agency that would do absolutely anything to get rid of me, yet I prevailed. So diss my Blueprint books if you like, but thanks to Edward Snowden and WikiLeaks, I am finally vindicated in all that I stated.

We live in a surveillance state. This applies even if you're in Canada or the UK or anywhere else in the world or that matter. The US spies on everyone, specially anyone that could potentially be engaged in what they consider criminal activity, which has been revealed to be everyone. National security never had anything to do with it.

I was reading a doc over on the Cryptome website a few days ago about the DEA Hemisphere program. It's a slideshow PDF and refers to any calls that go through AT&T switches. Do realize that this does not mean AT&T alone - as much of the world's telephone traffic passes through AT&T at one point or another. If your wireless phone from Sprint or Verizon is roaming, it may be on the AT&T network - you'd never know. Anyway, it's an interesting read:

DEA Hemisphere Telephone Call Database

In another country and think you're safe from the NSA and the many agencies it passes information to? Think again. These people tap the internet backbone and look at the many countries that cooperate with them:

NSA has Snoop Deals with Foreign ISPs

Think that this doesn't apply to you? There are so many documents to read that I won't even begin to compile a list - Cryptome and WikiLeaks Spy Files do though. You will find a treasure trove of documents on both - so get started with your reading!

From a Reuters News article dated 6 September 2013:

In a statement on Friday, the Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, which said it was speaking on behalf of all U.S. spy agencies, did not confirm details of the media reports.

The statement did acknowledge that the U.S. intelligence community "would not be doing its job" if it did not try to counter the use of encryption by such adversaries as "terrorists, cybercriminals, human traffickers and others."

 Read the article: US spy agencies decry latest Snowden revelations

Special attention to the "and others" part of that statement because it means you and me. They have had a backdoor into any and all of your online communications for years, including your bank account info. Nothing that is done online is private, so think about everything that you do online, even when you believed the transaction and/or visit to be private and/or secure.

I have been stating all of this for many years. If you paid attention, well, good for you. If you mocked me, well, be concerned, but more important, implement changes and do things differently from this moment forward. Personally, I believe they've been working on ruining the internet for all of us for years. Get your house in order before it's too late.

Are you awake yet? 

Aphrodite Companions Indictment

I updated my last post yesterday and stated that the Aphrodite Companions case showed as "closed" or terminated. At that time there was no second case showing in PACER, but there is now. For whatever reasoning, it was opened under a new case number in the same circuit. Now there is an indictment filed as well as several additional documents.

I have not had the time to read the indictment yet and will update this post after I do so later tonight or tomorrow. According to a statement in one document, they are both in the plea deal process. You can read the Aphrodite Companions indictment and the other documents listed below for yourself:

Aphrodite Companions Indictment 12 August 2013

Aphrodite Companions Arraignment 13 August 2013

Aphrodite Companions Order 14 August 2013

Aphrodite Companions Order to Continue 14 August 2013


Please do not attempt to discuss the case with Melissa or Vincent Lombardo; to do so would be a disservice to both of them.


UPDATE on 16 August 2013 @1:15AM:

Well, that was the most boring indictment I've ever read. It's clear that the Lombardos are in talks with the government. Not much else to say and this case is over for me.

Aphrodite Companions Information Update

UPDATE on 13 August 2013 @6:45PM:

It appears that the case against the owners of Aphrodite Companions is closed, which of course makes no sense as there are no documents filed on this - just the notation on the docket report that the case is terminated as of 12 August 2013. The only time I see this sort of conclusion is if a case was filed in a different Circuit. Also, according to the BOP Inmate Locator, both Vincent and Melissa Lombardo are still in MDC Brooklyn with an "unknown" release date. This is some sort of game, but your guess is as good as mine as to what is really happening in the case.

Aphrodite Companions 13 August 2013 (Vincent Lombardo)

Aphrodite Companions Case Closed 13 August 2013 (Melissa Lombardo)


END OF UPDATE


I have read and reread the Aphrodite Companions Complaint numerous times. I suppose that I'm trying to analyze the situation or at least why it happened to this company specifically and perhaps that is an exercise in futility. When you think about it, the how and the why is immaterial. It is what it is, right?

Any escort business that makes the choice to operate in multiple states, or globally as Aphrodite Companions did, could be the next candidate for federal indictment. I figure it's time to discuss it as the indictment may be filed tomorrow or it could also be filed next year or never. I'm not going to sit around and theorize for that long. The feds may not be in any hurry to file that indictment, so I won't be checking PACER on a daily basis, but I usually visit to research a couple of times a week anyway and will check at that time. As of the time of this posting, the indictment has not been filed.

One issue must be stated clearly first: Detective Myles Mahady is an anti-prostitution crusader and he has extensive experience in the field. Whatever he's decided to do by filing that complaint first, you could assume that he knows what he's doing. Most federal prosecutions are by indictment and I'd venture a guess that Mahady is in the midst of a major investigation.

Some Background on Detective Myles Mahady

There is some interesting information on Mahady in the book, "Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Elliot Spitzer," and I happen to have a copy. I found it (new paperback) on sale on Amazon for under $3 around Christmas. Now (this minute) it's on sale for $3.61. Definitely worth a read if you are currently doing business in Manhattan or ever intend to.

While I did not realize it until it was brought to my attention, I know more about Mahady than any book reveals, so I'll leave the information in the book where it is and the decision to read it up to you and tell you something that I already knew. Mahady was the lead detective on the NY Confidential case. In case you are not already aware, Jason Itzler owned NY Confidential and Natalia (Natalie McLennan) was his main escort for most of the duration of that business. Her book is titled, "The Price: My Rise and Fall as Natalia, New York's #1 Escort," though it has a rather high price at the moment.

I have spent much of my spare time blogging about the Paul Bergrin prosecution and trials on the Paul Bergrin Blog this year and on my Accused Madam Blog last year. However, I have no documents from Bergrin's NY state case. Paul Bergrin was Jason Itzler's attorney when Itzler owned NY Confidential (and prior to that) and eventually pleaded to a misdemeanor count in the case just to make it go away as he faced a much worse fiasco of a prosecution in Newark. Natalie McLennan testified for the government in the last Bergrin trial.

Jason Itzler was not called as a witness in Paul Bergrin's last trial and all of Natalie's testimony was really hearsay --- Jason told me this and Jason told me that etc.... So while I considered Itzler an informant in past as a result of statements he made to news reporters, he did not testify in the Bergrin trial. Really, I think he's just a clown. Why? Well, his many statements to news reporters in past. I also blogged about Natalie McLennan during Bergrin's trial:

Tweeting from Tahiti

In the Land of Make Believe

Detective Mahady worked closely with FBI Special Agent Shawn Brokos in connection with Paul Bergrin's NY state case and held-off on filing it until the feds were ready to file the Newark indictment. Brokos is a real piece of work, but you could read more on that in:

The Blind and Unbridled Ambition of a Narcissistic FBI Agent

Back to the Aphrodite Companions Case

Take a moment to check a few names in the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator and you'll see that Paul Bergrin is in MDC Brooklyn. Other than one week immediately after his trial when he was vindictively transferred to Essex County Jail and separated from all of his legal papers, Bergrin has been in MDC Brooklyn for over 4 years. Guess who else is in MDC Brooklyn... Check the BOP Inmate Locator for Vincent Lombardo and Melissa Lombardo. Interesting indeed.

If you know the Lombardos, you can always write a letter, but I would not attempt to discuss the case with either of them:

Melissa Lee Lombardo - #80711-053

MDC Brooklyn

Metropolitan Detention Center

P.O. Box 329002

Brooklyn, NY 11232

Vincent Lombardo - #80712-053

MDC Brooklyn

Metropolitan Detention Center

P.O. Box 329002

Brooklyn, NY 11232

On a different note, I did some reading on The Erotic Review (TER) last night and consider the situation improved in reference to reviews since my last visit over a year ago. Perhaps the majority of explicit reviews published these days were written by law enforcement or a few idiots. I am not a member and can't access the "juicy details," but site participants do not seem to be as insanely explicit in the discussions as in past.

I did note that one person commented in numerous discussions that the Aphrodite Companions arrest could be attributed to doing business with clients in other countries and several others picked-up on that and used the "foreign commerce" statement from the complain; however, they all omit the "interstate" part of the statement. For the record, any federal indictments or complaints related to escort or prostitution businesses use the terms together.

Any conclusions as to what caused this investigation that resulted in prosecution are theories at this point. It may have been a wire transfer from Dubai to an Aphrodite account or it may simply be the interstate operation business model. It could also be enemies making police complaints - I state this after reading the "rip-off reports" by a vindictive escort or two and the statements of a complaining escort on the ECCIE forum. I have heard a variety of theories and they are all exactly that.

Mentioning the complaining escort on ECCIE, what in the world gave this woman the idea that Aphrodite Companions would pay for her attorney in her solicitation arrest? If this was some promise made by an Aphrodite representative (Pamela) as the woman claims, I can see why Melissa and Vincent Lombardo were arrested and are being prosecuted. But note that I seriously doubt any such promise was made to the complaining escort.

Aphrodite Companions Owners Arrested

A reader brought it to my attention this morning that Melissa and Vincent Lombardo, the owners of Aphrodite Companions, were both arrested yesterday. Melissa is known to most as Pamela. In the distant past, I exchanged numerous emails with Pamela and she was very nice and respectful, though we found no common ground for discussion.

Aphrodite Companions was one more business that faced indictment because of how they operated. Really they are charged with money laundering that is based on violating the New York law of promoting prostitution by the feds. I'm sort of surprised that the Travel Act (over the touring escorts) was not thrown in the federal complaint, but the actual indictment is not filed yet, so this is still a possibility.

Read the complaint, which I downloaded in PACER this morning, to understand why you should never participate in the TER (the erotic review) game. I have said it before and I'll say it again: TER is where local and federal agents investigating prostitution participate. The forums are entrenched with cops, whether you choose to believe it or not. The complaint and a few other docs:

Aphrodite Companions Complaint

Aphrodite Companions Detention Order 18 July 2013

Aphrodite Companions Docket Report

I dare you to read that complaint and defend TER to me. At this point, the Lombardos are being held without bail, though they do have arraignment in early August - the 1st I believe. They are both better off staying in custody - that way when they plead to charges, the time served will be counted. And they will eventually plead to charges in this case.

The investigator in this case is a NYPD detective. You could bet your last $ that he's on TER. At any rate, Pamela seemed like a nice woman to me and I am sorry that this has happened to her. I'd also bet that there's an escort or two involved. I have read numerous online stories about Aphrodite Companions written by women claiming to have worked there, but have serious doubts about the veractity of each.

I will post an update when the indictment is available - probably within a week or so.

 

 

Watch out for the Abolitionists

In this context, the term abolitionists is a reference to the anti-adult business organizations popping-up everywhere disguised as sex trafficking experts and former hookers banding together to save the children from prostitution. Well, if you've read my books, you damn sure know that there have never been any children involved. But hey - these people are sucking the government $$$s up in the form of grants for their newly discovered cause and coming between an abolitionist and her money can be a dangerous undertaking.

So I stated a challenge to the last one I encountered in an Orlando Sentinel news article: Children caught in sex trade to be seen as victims

Yes, I have encountered so many of these save the children from sex-traffickers organizations recently that I have had my fill of the lot of them. Sometimes they write me emails with 20 questions. They claim to be sex-trafficking experts, which I seriously doubt, but I am certainly an expert on the so-called sex trafficking experts. My expertise is my many years of dealing with abolitionists that despise me, dating as far back as 1994. Most are seriously religious.

So what is the challenge?

Well, the article linked above was the second of its type that I have come across in the Sentinel in the last few days. These people claim there is a major child sex-trafficking problem in Central Florida. I call bullshit. The challenge as stated in the article comments, which thus far (6+ hours later), not a living soul has bothered to respond to:

There are not that many of these victims though and there are new non-profits popping-up daily competing for major grants. Way too many organizations lately. If we did a real count of child / under 18 victims of sex-trafficking, I'd be surprised if any one of these organizations could cite 10 cases in Orange County in 2012.

I can think of 3 cases that I have read about so I figure there may be double that. Come on researchers - it is your time to shine. Case numbers please.

Yeah. The truth is that I recall reading about three cases in the last year+ in Orange County (Orlando), Florida and trust me - the MBI puts on a big show for the news when they have an actual child (teenager) sex-trafficking case, so it is not as if this stuff does not make the news.

I'd bet my last $ that the so-called sex-trafficking experts whining about Central Florida being a hotbed for such activity can't come-up with 10 actual cases from 2012. These people are all anti-prostitution crusaders that attack all adult businesses and happen upon a teenager every now and again. The huge waste of money for the anti-prostitution agenda care of any taxpayers in this country is just crazy. Remember - it all started in Orlando. Now it is full circle as these people are entrenched here.

My favorite columnist at the Sentinel wrote about a couple, previously with Campus Crusade for Christ, that decided to drop their lucrative non-profit careers with the church and take-up the cause of teenage prostitution in Orlando with a new non-profit. The article: Fighting teenage prostitution in America's fantasy land

Even the one case in Orlando mentioned by Scott Maxwell in the article was about a man from Orlando, but the case happened in Tampa. Regardless, I do recall three cases in more than a year. Let's see if these dedicated people raking-in the $$$ from government grants can find 10 Orlando cases in 2012. Let's face it - if there aren't even 10 cases in a major metropolitan city in an entire year, these people are not needed because this is far from the crisis they claim it to be. They're here for the grant money.

Yes, I am an expert on those anti-adult business crusaders. Stay tuned - I will update this post IF they manage to find the 10 cases, but don't hold your breath.

Marie McKinlay Not Guilty in London Trial

First I must congratulate this brave defendant that suffered through something that is unimaginable to most people! Marie McKinlay was cleared on charges of running a prostitution racket (controlling prostitution for gain) in London and according to the Daily Mail, "sobbed with relief" when the jury delivered the not guilty verdicts. She had an intelligent jury that could see through the case that prosecutors presented:

Former call girl is cleared of running €500,000 high class prostitute agency

I used to hold a title of sorts for being the only escort business owner in the world (as far as I am aware) to be found not guilty by jury verdict on charges of operating an organized prostitution ring. In the US this is referred to as "organized crime" and RICO (racketeer influenced corrupt organization) charges filed. Now I am just the title holder in the US. In both situations the case was presented as the escorts or prostitutes being "employees" of the agency when in reality, it was much the opposite.

I have no idea what sort of penalty Marie McKinlay faced, but I faced a possible sentence of up to 60 years in a Florida prison. In Florida the two charges I was on trial for are first degree felonies. I will imagine that the potential penalties are much less in London, where the act of prostitution is absolutely legal for the prostitute.

Anyone in the UK have an idea of the possible penalty that Marie could have received if found guilty by the jury?

This case is also representative of why a defendant should take the case to a jury if that defendant knows the case was improperly charged, the business structure was set-up correctly, and they're not guilty of the charges and willing to testify. Marie's willingness to testify was extremely important. If a defendant is unwilling to swear to the truth under questioning on the stand in trial, then a jury knows no more than what the prosecutors claim.

I see that Marie is smiling and happy as she walked away from the court. I ran (literally) from the courthouse after collecting my paperwork and speaking with my attorney for a few moments. Marie is pregnant and could not run or most likely would have. We must ask ourselves why prosecutors often pursue those that deserve it the least. There is always a hidden agenda.

I cry for you as I type this Marie. It brings back memories and a flood of emotion.

Congratulations to Marie McKinlay!

The Marie McKinlay Trial in London: A Discussion

I have read several articles in the last week about the trial of Marie McKinlay in London. Marie is a 40 year-old mother of two that's accused of operating a brothel and an organized prostitution ring. I do not have access to actual court documents and can only interpret what I have read in the news. In fact, I do not know the specific charges that she is on trial for.

This article repeatedly refers to specific amounts of money in her bank account: Mother, 40, accused of running high-class vice ring

I think that's wonderful that she managed to cover her children's education and support them fully with no outside assistance. I do not understand the consistent reference to finances though, unless there is a related charge. Would we rather she was on public assistance?

According to all that I have read, Marie operated a top-level business and all of the escorts were 100% independent, setting their own hours, and paying 30% of the booking rate as a fee for marketing and appointment setting services. Marie took-over the administrative aspect of the service in 2002, while working as an escort for the operation controlled in its entirety by five escorts. This article reveals that she is testifying in trial: 'Escort Madam': I love money and sex

By all counts, I am not sure that I understand why prosecutors would target this strong, independent woman operating as ethically and correctly as possible. The statement is the reason, more likely than not - many in this world do not like independent women that need no help from anyone.

In the last article linked, take note of the images of the escorts and the description of what each offered. The article refers to "girlfriend experience" and "porn star experience," and both are terms that no one in the US in their right mind uses these days. Both terms come with serious baggage to state it mildly, though the wording is not actually illegal anywhere as far as I am aware; they're defined on forums and message boards everywhere.

In the UK, prostitution itself is not illegal for the prostitute; however, operating a brothel is indeed. I'm going to imagine that they expect the prostitutes to find customers online all by themselves with no assistance from anyone. Sounds inconsistent to me, although I do understand what such laws are intended to target. I do not believe that Marie McKinlay operated the sort of agency that the laws were intended for though.

I view each of the escorts working with Marie as operating their own business and contracting her marketing and appointment setting services. Consider that for a moment - it's sort of the reverse of the independent contractor / escort contracted by the agency in the US.

I do not know how trials work in the UK and only hope that Marie is found not guilty of anything she is charged with. While there may be technical improprieties, in spirit it is precisely the type of operation that any government should happily accept. Obviously no one has been coerced or forced in any way, shape, or form in this case. My thoughts are with the defendant.

Do Not Mess with the IRS

A federal case filed recently in Las Vegas was brought to my attention by a reader of my blogs. I retrieved all of the available documents from PACER and they're uploaded to my Updates (Documents) page of my website. The only named defendant in the case is Emmanouil (Manny) Varagiannis and though the indictment includes numerous statements referencing prostitution, there is no actual charge for anything related. The charges involve transaction structuring to evade reporting requirements.

Transaction structuring is defined as making deposits to a financial institution (banks in this case) and "structuring" to avoid the requirement that a report be filled out by the bank teller for deposits of $10K and over. According to what I read, one bank teller sort of advised him to divide deposits and avoid the government form and that's where it all began.

As for the allegations of prositution in his escort business, or rather outcall promoter business, the man is not charged with anything related. I believe that detectives in Las Vegas managed to bust an escort or two, but that certainly won't make a legal case against the acting manager, which is the position Varagiannis holds. Some woman that is owner of a men's club and was obviously involved with him in past made allegations, but I do not see anything in any document claiming there to be a wiretap or tape of the admissions the woman claims that Varagiannis made privately.


Scorned woman syndrome or what?

It does seem that way from what I read in the indictment and other documents. Apparently detectives approached the woman at her club and the conversation evolved to what is stated in the indictment:

Varagiannis Las Vegas Indictment

Really this is all about structuring to avoid IRS reporting requirements. This is a main reason that if opening and operating an escort business or an outcall promotion company, you need to see an accountant. If you open in Vegas, you need an accountant immediately and before an attorney. Clark County charges a % of the gross income as a part of the license, so there's no way you could procrastinate on the accountant.

There are other allegations in the indictment that refer to a program offering taxi drivers kickbacks for referrals. I am not clear on why it is even mentioned as it is not illegal to do so; however, the cabbie (taxi driver) would of course be responsible to report any money earned on his income tax filings.

The bottom line to this case is do not mess with the IRS, no matter how anyone at a bank suggests you structure your deposits. You are responsible. More on this case as documents are made available.

The Worst Ad Ever for Backpage

There are many reasons that potential clients should not be dialing sex workers on Backpage, but I have never found a reason as valid as this story. There were 40 people arrested in Saint Cloud, Florida over the last few days in a sting operation. Now Saint Cloud is in Osceola County, which is at Disney's back gate. In other words, cops called ads in Orlando Backpage and booked sex workers.

See the images - all 40 of them. Collectively this group looks like a bunch of drug abusers, though there may be a few not on drugs:

40 Arrested in Saint Cloud Prostitution Bust (link no longer works, so no reason for post, but it was too much)


Have you ever seen a worst ad for Backpage? I can't even believe these people have the audacity to post an ad, but I really wonder what sort of images each used in the ads; obviously not their own.

I never post stuff like this, but I about fell out of my chair laughing...

Operating an Escort Service in the Sunshine

In Florida we have what is referred to as Sunshine Law. This is a reference to open government and providing public access to government records and meetings . Often this law is not enforced or government agencies find ways around it via the use of exemptions. This is not much different than the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) at the federal level, though the feds do make serious use of a list of many exemptions and more often than not, you will not receive the information requested. Yes, they state differently on the linked website, but I'm offering the reality perspective here.

In many ways your escort business operation is similar in relation to managing information. If you are in the US or the UK, you should already be aware that you and your fellow citizens are being tracked and it would take agents of the government less than an entire day to slap together a full picture of you that includes contacts, Facebook pals, work history, telephone numbers past and present, internet access devices and methods, bank and financial statements, relatives, neighbors, and friends etc.... Hopefully you get the picture here.

So to go through life and business expecting any level of privacy today is not much different than burying your head in the sand. All that you do is easily tracked by government agents in the US and the UK. Everything you say and do could be replayed for judge or jury should these agents decide to target you. If you doubt what I am saying or would prefer to think of me as paranoid, I ask that you take less than 30 minutes of your time and read this for starters:

The NSA is Building the Country's Biggest Spy Center (Watch What You Say) by James Bamford.

If you would like to take it an additional step, purchase all of James Bamford's books and start reading. I first started reading Bamford's books back in 2001. The first I read was Body of Secrets: Anatomy of the Ultra-Secret National Security Agency, and I purchased the hardcover; still have it. A more recent title of importance is The Shadow Factory: The NSA from 9/11 to Eavesdropping on America. Read it. I guarantee that no matter how much you think you know about government surveillance, you'll find it enlightening.


So how does this relate to the escort business and my escort service?

The connection should be obvious for you, but I will elaborate. Any information they want to gather about you, your escort service, its clients, and the escorts is right at their fingertips. In the US there is a Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, but trust me; that won't stop them. Few law enforcement agencies in the US pay any attention whatsoever to the Fourth Amendment. I am not clear on related or similar protections for citizens in the UK, but I hear the surveillance is even worse there, if that is possible.

If I want to go somewhere and I do not want anyone to know where I'm going, I use a vehicle that I do not own and I leave my telephone at home. Sounds dreadfully primitive, right? It is what it is. I do take such an excursion a few times a year, but I will leave it to your imagination as to where and why. Hint: It has no relation to the escort business at all.

If I want to have a conversation and I want to be as sure as possible that it is private, I have it in-person and with someone that I know and trust. There is no such thing as a secure telephone. There is no such thing, for the most part, as secure email. This short assessment includes the use of throwaway phones, which may indeed be secure for one conversation, but that's it. If you can afford $30-50 to have one conversation and the other party can also, then go for it; however, this has no connection to the escort business. As you should be aware, you have many conversations daily with many people in the course of operating your escort service or entertainment company.

Think you are placing ads for your escort business anonymously? Think again. You are tracked in all that you do and if someone decides to gather all of the information, they'll be aware of any posting you have made anywhere using any name, if they want to be.

If you have read my Blueprint book, you know that I scoff at verification services, TER reviews, use of credit cards, and anything that gives another party a list of escorts or clients. I feel that we are all entitled to privacy and that was always something I enforced whether anyone wanted it or not. The good thing about running your own business is that you can do it your way. Nevermind the ignorant potential clients that want to use credit cards or the escorts that do not care if their face is splattered all over the internet or not. You could also learn this much about my business philosphy by reading my blogs.


So how do I operate my escort service in the sunshine then?

If you have followed my advice and are operating with any and all required licenses and paperwork filings, you're off to a good start. If you have followed my advice in relation to touring escorts (!), verification services, online reviews etc... you may not be as publicly visible as your competition that ignored the advice, but you are a hell of a lot safer. Intelligent clients will find you. Serious and intelligent escorts will appreciate you and find you when the time is right.

I have had far too many questionable emails lately from alleged readers that want to know how to "recruit" escorts. Never, in any book, have I ever used the phrase "recruit escorts" and I feel that these questionable emails are from people that did not read the book and seek free information or some government agency or another.

I realize that some of you consider yourselves to be tech-intelligent and make use of many online marketing tools. I ask you to realize that most of these online marketing tools were certainly available to me back in 2000-2001, but I passed on using them. My arrest in the malicious prosecution did include some postings on Big Doggie website sent by prosecutors in discovery; however, these posting were my attempts to stop anyone from discussing or reviewing my agency. You can read about it in Memoirs if you care. The party soliciting reviews was indeed an agent and I was correct.

Do you think I am so outdated that there were no touring escorts when I was in business? I must lol at that. Consider Miami Companions or Apres Vous or various others that base their business on touring escorts. They were all around during the late years of my business in Orlando. Miami Companions operators all pled guilty to various counts and the company no longer exists, but the problems were a result of touring escorts and credit cards.

The other outfit named has indeed had plenty of arrests in past. If there is no visible federal case, that's only because it is invisible and they opted to remain open. I closed my agency almost three months before I was arrested. Yes, I knew that agents were speaking to an informant escort that worked with me briefly more than two years earlier and was operating her own agency when caught-up in a credit card mess prosecution. That escort service owner continued operating her service too and her damn telephone was ringing in her purse as she testified in my trial. She also had escorts that worked with her business in the hallways during the first four days of my trial, at the request of agents, no doubt.

You could also look at the more recent case of Classy DC Escorts and DMV Indies. What did these people do that you should not be doing? Well, plenty really and if you read my book you'd know that, but for the sake of this conversation, they offered touring escorts and posted frequently on TER. Not intending to pick-on TER here and there are other similar outfits that many of you are aware of that are no different. One thing (among many) that they all share in common is the explicit reviews systems.

So keep on posting on TER and offering escorts on tours if you want, but realize that often prosecutions are a game of musical chairs and someone involved will take the deal. That is a fact that you could take to your fact bank. More recently I have heard that TER is hosted outside the US and this is a main reason that the many participants feel safe and secure. As if the US government has no reach outside the US, right? Incredibly laughable to me.

So operate your escort service or entertainment company in the sunshine, but at the same time realize why privacy does matter and keep your client and escort lists to yourself. After all is said and done, you are sending out sexy escorts by the hour for companionship and not escorts for sex. Realize that any conversation you have with anyone could one day be replayed for that jury of your peers. All of your conversations should be in the sunshine and with expectation that someone somewhere may be listening.

We are all tracked in America, and in the UK, though I am unsure of relevant laws there. Doubt me? Search for the term "Carnivore" and "ECHELON" if you are young or have forgotten what your government is capable of.

Edit on 2 September @5:45PM to add an important link: 

There is an interesting PBS Frontline show titled, "Spying on the Home Front," first released in May of 2007. You read and click on chapters to watch the videos:

Spying on the Home Front

Whether you are aware or not, your government considers you and everyone to be a suspect. Suspected of what? Anything; it doesn't matter, but they'll usually use the terror investigation card to get the ball rolling. It's not much different than the philosphy that guides all cops: If you're not a cop, you're a perp.

When it is Time for a Vacation

You should know that it is time for a vacation when your telephone lines are being pounded with odd and questionable calls from numbers all over the country. At least one major city in the southwest US is currently under siege. I do not need to name that city as anyone in the escort business there is already aware of the current dire situation.

What the rest of you need to know is that the totally independent escorts in that southwest US city that book their own calls are being charged with the usual misdemeanor soliciting AND felony promoting prostitution. The felony count is for booking the call and the bond has been reported as $50,000 in each case. This is in line with what I have always stated that any independent escort that markets and books calls is her own business and they are not immune. Still, it is unusual.

In my opinion, it is all related to the Classy DC Escorts indictment fallout. There are numerous informant independents walking around seeking work; take a vacation and do not meet, interview, or work with any unknowingly.

When the telephone lines are under siege as they are in this southwest US city, it's time to take that long-needed vacation. Need more money first? No, you need to have a business when you return instead of a messy legal case. If you have little money socked away for such surprise vacations, think back to before you entered the escort business: Take a cheap extended vacation, but definitely take one.

What is a cheap vacation?

We used to go down to the Keys, like south of Marathon Key. There are wonderful campgrounds in this area where you can go diving, fishing and party for a month without missing the rest of the world. You can actually catch your dinner. Do not forget to bring a shrimp net and a lantern along with your coolers and camping gear.

Las Vegas can be a cheap vacation too. Check the rates at Circus Circus and Motel 6 on East Tropicana. Usually that Motel 6 has nightly rates of $32 if you book online and it's actually a choice place to stay if you choose the recently remodeled non-smoking section. There are all sorts of coupons available for buffets and even gambling... Check Anthony Curtis' Las Vegas Advisor for deals.

Perhaps camping on a lake in Kentucky or Tennessee mountains is more your style. While you're there stop by the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg for a tour. Remember what it was like before you had to deal with ringing phones and idiots all night.

Wherever you choose to go on your extended cheap vacation, leave the business phones at home. Contact your wireless service provider or the local telco and have the lines put on vacation too. Well, you may want to keep one line on so that you can see how fast and furious the calls come in when you leave and cannot be reached. Suddenly people that you never knew cared are desperately dialing you to get the 411. Just do not pick-up the phone.

When you return you may have to start all over again with escorts as many will not understand any need for such a vacation and will opt to work elsewhere, get arrested, and turn into the next informant. You will need to do your due diligence on the escorts prior to meeting with any when you return.

Give it a month and then check the atmosphere again. If it is still as it was when you left, leave again. No amount of money is worth a felony criminal case and the end of your business. Wait them out, because eventually they will find something better to do and go away.

Opening an Escort Service: Yes or No

One statement that I make in my Blueprint books is that the escort business is not for everyone. Many will consider the option of opening an escort service, read the book, and then opt to pass on it. I tried to not glamourize the business and clearly state that it is highly unlikely that you will ever make $millions as some people claim.

Over the course of the last year I have received numerous emails from interested people that ask if I would do it all over again as they try to decide their own paths in life. I give you no hype on the topic, but yes, if the circumstances were the same, I'd do it all over again. I state this even though I ended-up arrested, in trial, and acquitted by jury.

Yes, I lost everything that I had as a result of the criminal case and I had more than most people (law enforcement and prosecutors) seem to think as I had invested everything in gold and silver bullion and equities. I studied the gold and silver market for almost two years and bought back when gold was $250-$280 an ounce and silver was $3.50-$5. Because of the many costs involved in my arrest and case, I also sold it all as I went along and by the time I reached trial there was little remaining. As the dealer that I sold to stated, I should consider myself lucky that I had it all to sell and cover expenses. Yes, I cried on more than one occasion over it – it was my retirement and my son's future. Who doesn't want to buy their child a new car etc... and offer financial security?

I was left with no retirement and no financial security whatsoever, gold recently passed $1800 an ounce, and silver was around $40, but it was the equities (stocks) that I really lost on. Back then I could have told you anything about any gold or silver mine in North America, South America, or South Africa. I learned much about a topic that doesn't matter at all anymore.

I decided that after knowing for fact that agents broke into my Orlando house without a court order or warrant, I never wanted to own property in the US again. I also used to have perfect credit, but really who gives a shit about credit anyway? So make no mistake here – I exited the business with less than I had when I started it in 1992. However, I was able to spend my son's years of growing-up with him instead of working all the time and we had the money to take trips to NYC, the Bahamas, on a cruise, shopping etc... all the stuff that never would have happened without that escort business.

One recent email I received:

If you had to do it all over again, would you? I've been presented with an opportunity to enter this realm, however, I am unsure if the risks are outweighed by the rewards.

Thanks for listening.

My response to that email:

Well, it was not presented as an opportunity to me - I was attempting to support myself and my child on an $8 per hour job with no health insurance and we both had health issues. So yes, I would do it again - my son and I had fun as he grew-up, we did things and had the money to. Otherwise I would have never seen him as I would have been too busy working.

If your life is already good, I wouldn't get involved in the escort business. If you are unemployed or barely surviving on a low wage job, you may want to consider it.

You also must analyze the person(s) providing the opportunity. I advise in my book that one should only have a partner if they're married or know the party really well. You can go into business on your own - you do not need an "opportunity" or a partner. Be careful - there are treacherous people involved in the escort business.

Hope that helps.

The response to my response:

Thank you Vicky. That is exactly what I needed to hear.

I assume that the emailer chose to pass on getting into the business. Many of you that read the Blueprint book may do the same. Keep the book in case your circumstances change and you decide to go ahead with the project in the future as we never know what tomorrow will bring. Also keep it because you never know when I will decided to stop selling it – yes, there has been some pressure in recent days and I admit that it is a consideration, albeit a small one.

If you are already in a dire financial situation or have similar reasons as my own for entering the escort business, plan carefully and proceed with caution. Analyze all that you say and do before you speak or do it and you'll be fine. I used to pretend that a jury was listening to every telephone conversation and everything stated to every escort; the sad part is that I still must do this because they are sore losers that never, ever go away.

So I won, but I also lost and you need to clearly understand that. I have serious enemies. Caveat Emptor.

The Touring Concept

It sounds like a great business idea unless you are aware of the potential pitfalls. The concept of escorts touring to different cities for pre-booked appointments should be a viable business plan, but it isn't. I have stated this fact in each Blueprint book, in every phone consultation, and in any email that touched on the topic. Of course I also add it to every other blog post for maximum saturation. By now you know my opinion if you're reading this.

It is a widely known fact that crossing a state line transforms a state issue into a federal issue. But why should that matter because you are not doing anything illegal, right? The simple answer is that it shouldn't matter. The explanation is that you must only be accused of doing something illegal. Being accused and being guilty are two different situations. The base of any allegation by federal prosecutors would be a description of the defendant crossing a state line in the course of business, so if you've never done this then you do not need to worry about the entire issue.

These days it is often teamed with the sex trafficking allegation when it pertains to touring escorts or companions. I have discussed the evolution of the term sex trafficking in depth in other posts, so I won't be repetitive here. This is merely a reminder with proof attached. Many that read this blog are not interested in The Accused Madam Blog, but I want you to read these two recent articles:

Miami Companions Owners Indicted

Unraveling the Miami Companions Indictment

If you still think that touring escorts is a good idea after reading, well, we don't know each other. Sometimes I have little to say about the escort business as it is like an old hat to me – how much can one say about it? It is what it is.

Image: Downtown Miami Florida at Night 2010 © FotoMak / 2010 © iStockphoto.com

How to Open an Escort Business

This post on how to open an escort business gets so many reads that I felt it necessary to add an update. If you really want to open and operate an escort service correctly you must be aware of the party offering the advice. Sure I'd like it if you opt to buy a copy of Blueprint but the goal of this update is not to sell my $10 ebook.

One main point that I'd like to make here is the absolute necessity of knowing who is offering the information. If anyone claims to have operated a successful escort business for several years or more, that party should not have any problem giving a real name and verifiable information, unless they never owned an escort service to begin with and/or evaded taxes. And then if they were as successful as they claim, why write and sell such information? Hell, they shouldn't need the money and should be kicking back in Amsterdam (or wherever), right?

There are others besides me that are capable of writing a how to book on escort service operations; however, to date none of them have. The information that I see out there comes from a couple of marketers that have read my book, a couple of people that have been in business for 2-4 years and are still in business, a guy that uses escorts for sexual trysts, and a woman that was in business in Canada for a few years.

The marketers are people that have read books on how to operate an escort business (like my books for example) and then rearranged the information, threw in this or that and removed parts, and now are on a hard sell mission. These people may indeed be better at marketing than I am; however, they know little to nothing of how an escort business actually works and the many potential dangers involved for you. They paint it with a broad brush and refer to it as "fun" and "sexy" and tell you you'll make $millions when it's more likely that you'll be indicted before the first year is over if you follow their advice.

There's one new guy in town and he bought a copy of my book back when it was available as a PDF. I'm not going to name this outfit, but you'll find that the expensive book they sell has a similar structure to my own, though the content is not at all the same. In other words, they used many of my chapter titles, but that is where the similarities evolve. One major difference in the book is that they try to sell you on a merchant account by including a free website (thanks, but I'll control my own domains and websites).

Yes, they want you to sign-up and accept credit cards for your new escort service and if you have read my book, well, you know what I say about that, whether anyone agrees or not. Hell, I have sat and watched it for over 15 years now and always knew better than to accept cards or any form of payment other than cash. Yes, that includes the Green Dot crap, but that isn't why I'm bothering to update here.

I have mentioned this long story on my other blog - Operation Out Call (IRS), but the original story that was embedded in the blog footer is no longer viewable as Blogger won't allow frames anymore. It is available free in Google Books and is a New York Magazine article dated July 22, 1996, titled "The Love Float," but states "The Screwball Scheme" on the actual start page.

Go to page 30 here: The Love Float by Daniel Green

End of March 2012 Update.

My last post induced me to look and see what information is actually available for the inexperienced escort service entrepreneur that has little or no knowledge of the business. So guess what – I'm going to do your work for you and include a list here; I will also offer my opinion on each listing, though I recommend my Blueprint books for the entrepreneurial types that need to get involved in a money-making business and do not expect 24/7 live support. I certainly answer questions, but there are limits to this.

1. The most findable information is offered by Michelle of Exotic Publishing.

The first issue that I have with Michelle is her opening line: "Have you ever dreamed of getting rich by opening and owning your very own escort agency?"

To me this is scary stuff. Why? Because I have known people with agencies from Orlando to NYC to London, and none have ever hit the "rich" category. To me the escort business is simply create-a-job. Sure, you can make a decent living at it, but it is a lot of work, and you'll never get rich if you operate correctly. Sorry, but those are the facts. Michelle offers a 5-volume box set for $544. Sorry Michelle, but the escort business isn't rocket science and I cannot imagine what information requires five volumes.

After reading the "about" page on her website, I decided that Michelle seems like a nice lady, that probably knows her stuff – except for the credit card thing. Accepting credit cards is good, if you're in Canada or Las Vegas. If you want 24/7 live support it might be a good idea to go with Michelle's deal. From my perspective, if you need 24/7 live support you don't belong in the escort business, and this is not a service that comes with my books by any stretch of the imagination. Just do yourself a favor and ignore what she says about credit cards.

2. The next most simple to find information is from Lenexa & Hefner, whoever they are. They say that they are "experts in the escort industry," but don't you want to know why they claim such a title? I do. Who are they? Well, they do not explain that at all. I don't know about you, but I want a resume of some type from anyone that claims expert status.

They state that their information is valued at over $550, but it's on sale now for $?. That's quite a markdown – better hurry. They list a featured client as "Las Vegas Escorts" and have a banner link to the website. Few services in Vegas refer to the business as an "escort service" as escort services cannot be licensed there. Vegas has loads of "entertainment companies" licensed as "outcall promoters" that send out dancers or entertainers.

Where is Mr. Winky? I can't seem to find his information anywhere, but this guy can tell you how to find girls and use them to operate an incall – which is not an escort service at all. So if that is what you want to do, then find Mr. Winky on your own. He does sound like an expert on that.

There are several real books on Amazon.com that relate to becoming an escort, advertising and marketing for the escort, and accounting for the escort, but that is not the discussion here. This is all about opening and operating an escort service – I never went out as the escort and I'm not figuring that you intend to. This is all about running a business.

If you are seeking a babysitter, I would advise you to go with Michelle - she charges a high price, but she also states that 24/7 live support is included. At the same time I must ask you to analyze your ability to run escort services.

Caveat Emptor!