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Exotica-2000 AKA New York Elites Escort Service Busted

4/12/05

I've been predicting this type of bust for months. I expect Nicis Girls will be busted too.

Fast Eddie writes on the Yahoo group Fun With PSEs (Porn Star Escorts):

If E2K has indeed been busted, it's just another indicator that the hobby is on the verge of entering a new era. I think the golden age of the PSE agency is over. Partly for political reasons (which is a topic for a seperate discussion), but also, and I think for a larger part, due to the economic realities of post 9/11 America.

The free ride that the Clinton administration gave to the entire adult movie/adult services industries in general was, in my opinion, in a large part responsible for the proliferation of the various high-profile escort agencies (PSE and otherwise) that have flourished over the last 10 years or so.

But because of the current economic climate, most of the agencies have significantly decreased the amount of the girl's expenses they cover. Airfare and hotel costs, which used to be paid partially or fully, has been reduced or eliminated, and even if they are partially covered the girls are now usually required to front the costs themselves and be reimbursed by the agency later. In the majority of cases, (I think partly out of fear of the Mann Act), airfare has been entirely eliminated as a covered expense. So the benefits of booking exclusively through an agency aren't what they once were. Add to that the fact that competition has dramatically increased... there are a LOT of new so-called "PSEs" popping up almost daily who's names hardly anybody recognizes. I've done freeones.com and google searches on most of them and in many cases there are little or no hits on their names. So these days it costs the PSE more out of her own pocket to tour and there are a lot more girls in the same city at the same time then there used to be, many of whom are booking directly at significantly lower rates than the agencies.

The results are that many of the savvy PSE's (at least the ones without big egos) are beginning to realize that at half the agency rate they can triple their number of appointments and end up making a lot more money by booking directly.

So if the heyday of the PSE agency is over, what does the future hold? My GUESS is that four things are likely to occur...

1. Some ladies will simply quit the business entirely out of fear of increased LE scrutiny or from an inability to handle their own tours.

2. Most of the (few) very big name pornstars who are openly available through an agency will disappear and go under the radar.

3. Many of the better known pornstars who aren't already booking directly will begin doing so at one half to two thirds the agency rates, and

4. The no-name, gonzo and web type PSEs will fall into the upper end of the non-PSE escort range at $300-$500 per hour.

Ultimately this may benefit both the PSEs and the hobbyists alike, especially those hobbyists who live in places like LA and NYC. Lower prices for the guys and less competition, higher volume and consequently more money for the ladies. One possible downside for hobbyists in secondary or tertiary markets like Mpls, Detroit, Chicago, and I'm sad to say, Philly, etc., is that they probably won't be seeing as many pornstars coming to those cities as previously did.

Porn stars promoted on Exotica-2000.com as available for escorting have included in the past Digital Playground contract star Devon. Girls now on the site include: Adajja, Alexandra Quinn, Alexis Malone, Aliyah Yi, Allison Kilgore [who says she no longer escorts], Alllysin Chaynes, Amber Peach, Angela D'Angelo, Anita Dark, Anna Malle, Annie Andersin, Aspen Stevens, Austin O'Riley, Ava Devine, Ava Vincent, Bianca Trump, Bionca Seven, Blake Mitchell, Bridgette Monroe, Brittany Andrews, Brooke Hunter, Carolyn Monroe, Catalina, Chasey Lain, Cherie, Chloe, Chloe Black, Cytherea, Dayton, Dru Berrymore, Elizabeth X, Jennifer Steele, Jodie Moore, J.R. Carrington, Julie Meadows, Kasorn Swan, Kate Frost, Kayla Marie, Kendra Jade, LA LaMann, Lauren Haze, Layla Jade, Lezley Zen, Lisa Sparxxx, Lita Chase, Lola, Lucy Lee, Mason Storm, Melissa Hill, Melissa Wolf, Mia Smiles, Midori, Mike Lee, Nick Manning, Nicole Moore, Nikita Denise, Nina Hartley, Ona Zee, Phylisha Anne, PJ Sparxxx, Raquel Devine, Rebecca Bardoux, Rebecca Love, Regan Star, Renee LaRue, Roxanne Hall, Ryan Conner, Sabrine Maui, Samantha Strong, Shay Sights, Shyla Stylez, Solveig, Sophia Ferrari, Staci Thorn, Summer Storm, Tabitha Stevens, Teri Weigel, Tiffany Mynx, Tracey Adams, Tyler Faith, Wendy-Maya Divine.

From the New York Post:

April 12, 2005 -- The feds yesterday busted a multimillion-dollar prostitution ring that allegedly dispatched call girls to cities across the United States and the world.

The ringleaders of the global sex service, New York Elites, were identified as Ukrainian-born Elena "Llana" Trochetchenkova and Egyptian-born Rady Abdel Salem Abbassy.

The two, along with two alleged office staffers, have been charged with engaging in interstate prostitution, according to a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court. They ran the ring from an office at 12 East 32rd St., charging johns from $1,000 to $2,000 per hour, officials said.

Their call girls "would do one- to two-week 'tours' in other cities, during which they would work as prostitutes in hotel rooms in those cities," said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Theodore Psahos.

When the feds raided the ring's headquarters yesterday, they found a ledger containing clients' names and payments, index cards with call girls' names, photos and bios, travel itineraries and the "sexual activities in which the women would or would not engage," officials said.

Abbassy, who officials said had been deported from the U.S. 20 years ago for a marijuana conviction, was arrested yesterday and ordered held without bail at his arraignment.

Also arrested were the ring's alleged dispatcher, Valerie "Vivian" Hairston, and office worker Nancy Khaja, officials said. Both were freed in $100,000 bail. Trochetchenkova was still being sought.

From the New York Daily News:

City hooker ring KOd

Operated through web

BY ROBERT GEARTY and GREG B. SMITH DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

A multimillion-dollar Manhattan-based prostitution ring used the Internet to snag customers and arrange "dates" with hundreds of supposed supermodels in 22 states, prosecutors charged yesterday.

NY Elites promised "stunning European knockouts" with names such as Vanessa, Roxy and Katrina - charging $500 to $1,500 per hour for sex in hotels from coast to coast, authorities say.

The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency raided Elites' E. 32nd St. headquarters and discovered records listing the names of more than 200 hookers, according to court papers.

At 6 a.m. yesterday, agents busted alleged ringleader Rady Abdel Salem Abbassy. But they missed his girlfriend and alleged partner, Elena Trochtchenkova, who remains a fugitive, prosecutors said.

The ring operated out of an eighth-floor suite off Fifth Ave. where "dispatchers" took calls from johns drawn via a Web site.

The site depicted numerous women who supposedly "appeared on the covers of many mainstream European magazines," providing a résumé with every physical detail. Yesterday it featured 5-foot-6, 116-pound Vanessa with the come-on: "Call and Reserve Vanessa today!" She was allegedly "available in New York City" from last week until Sunday. "If you are in need of beautiful companionship and sharp intellect, check out the most sought after escorts in the New York area," the Web site promised.

Three of the pricey call girls turned informants and told of being sent on two-week "tours" to other cities, according to affidavits by Immigration and Customs agent Theodore Psahos.

The escort service used Hotwire, an Internet travel agency, to book hotel rooms for customers. Records show the service booked rooms in 22 cities, including New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco. Hotwire officials, who are not accused of any wrongdoing, cooperated with the probe.

Immigration agents discovered $5.5 million in deposits into accounts linked to NY Elites, mostly from credit card payments, prosecutors alleged. But investigators believe the ring netted much more money, noting that most customers paid with cash.

The ring was quite sophisticated, requiring all first-time users to provide detailed personal information to filter out potential law enforcement agents. Only after callers were cleared could they request specific women and particular sex acts, prosecutors alleged. "Incomplete forms will not be accepted," the site warned.

Call girls would collect payments upfront, and deliver cash or credit card receipts to the dispatchers, prosecutors said.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs confirmed the arrests and said the agency would release more information today.

In Manhattan Federal Court, accused ringleader Abbassy was detained when prosecutor Benjamin Gruenstein alleged he was in the U.S. illegally after being deported to Egypt for a 1985 marijuana conviction.

Two women, Valerie Hairston and Nancy Khaja, alleged to be dispatchers, were released on $100,000 bond.

Fast Eddie writes on TER: "Both Stacy (Centerfolds Club) and Nici specialize in Centerfolds, but Stacy is a much smaller operation, although apparently much more discrete as well. As for screening, it's much more invasive than BM or E2K... you need to be able to prove your ability to pay the big bucks, so you usually need to divulge driver's license number, possibly your SSN and some personal financial info in addition to the normal screening requirements."

E2K Pinched Because They Funded Islamic Terrorism?

According to a source close to E2K, the reason law enforcement busted the internet prostitution empire was that its principle, Egyptian Rady Abdel Salem Abbassy aka Alec, was funneling the proceeds to Islamic terrorist organizations.

That's what the girls who've worked for E2K have been saying. They've been gossiping like crazy since the bust.

NYElites.com was the non-porn-star sister site of Exotica-2000.com.

Most of the girls only dealt with Alec's wife, the Ukrainian-born Elena "Llana" Trochetchenkova.

Another source, a superbly knowledgeable source, disagrees: "ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which was formed after 9/11) got involed because they were wiring money to Egypt. Rady's family was there. They hide the money for Rady and his wife Alana.

"Whoever told you that [about funding terrorism] is stupid. Like all black people are slaves

"They had girls coming from Russia, some were caught. So they turned.

"The porn girls are all up the creek because none paid taxes. These girls deposit cash into the checking accounts. Then don't report it. All of them do it. LE [Law Enforcement] got the cards with pictures of every girl with all their trips all over. They are all done, the wheels turn slow but they turn.

"In the last couple of months, look at how many escort services have gone down. Stacy (Centerfolds Club) all talk, no jobs, no money. Body Miracle's owner Robert Holliday pled guilty to a white collar crime."

I wonder if Body Miracle has been taken over by law enforcement to do a sting?

"The days of quick cash are almost over. The end is near. All you have to do is look at the news. The feds will take out talent. The talent will get less money for escorting. Biz will dry up because companies don't pay enough. The fine girls will not work for nothing.

"Ask the talent you know. I bet they don't care that Elana got busted. They don't see the big picture."

Kami Andrews aka Salome: 'I was told Elana was Russian Mob'

Bornyo writes on XPT:

Aren't you glad you quit Kami? Sounds like they're gonna look at the porn girls for undeclared income, which means looking into personal bank records vs. tax returns. Now blowing all available cash on drugs and booze sounds wiser than depositing it, tax-wise. I'd be wary of the remaining agencies- they're probably waiting in the wings to collect the stray escorts and johns.

Kami replies: "That was an experiment from like a year ago. I have wisely invested all my money in pills and shoes."

Madam Barracuda Elena Trochtchenkova

Elena Trochtchenkova, who owns the biggest internet prostitution empire Exotica-2000.com and NYElites.com, also owns the restaurant Barracuda (7026 Third Ave. at 71st Street in Bay Ridge). For more information, call (718) 833-3759.

Last November, owners Rody Alexander, Nabiel Garcia and Elena Trochtchenkova gave Barracuda a facelift.

For starters, a fresh fruit martini goes down easy (maybe too easy) with any of Barracuda's delectable appetizers. The martini menu includes apple, peach and strawberry renditions - each accompanied by pieces of fruit. Pair one with the crispy fried calamari and its slightly spicy marinara sauce.

 

4/13/05

Elena Trochtchenkova Out On Bail

Along with her Egyptian-born husband she owns the biggest internet prostitution empire Exotica-2000.com and NYElites.com.

Becca writes: "The company [E2K, NYElites.com] is owned by the Russian Mob. There are a lot of porn gals that will be going down and you know the IRS will get involved. I feel sorry for all those stupid girls who thought that taking the easy way out was going to be profitable. I always say you get what you deserve. The ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is contacting all the girls who are listed in the black book and they will be subpoened to appear in court and could possibly see jail time for prostitution. I hope they all have good lawyers."

A reliable source writes:

Okay a girl would have their plane ticket paid for by Exotica 2000. She would fly from LAX to JFK. She would then take a cab to a Hotel that was booked in her name by Elana's girl Dee. After getting settled she would get ready, not taking a shower because she does not do that often. Then she would call in to the office to let them know she was on. The office would call when someone booked her. They would say cash or credit card. If it was credit card, she would have to fill out a form and have the guy sign it. She would also take an imprint of the guys card with a plastic machine. This would prove hard for many girls. After 3 to 5 appointments, she would call out. Every couple of days Elana would meet the girls at her office to settle up. She would take her cut of the cash. Then she would cut a check for the credit card charges. The girls would then take it to a near by check cashing place or, if real stupid, deposit the check.

ICE will not speak to the girls in the biz, it will be the IRS who takes their time but will take their pound of flesh.

New York Elites Busted

From The New York Times April 13, 2005:

New York Elites, a bustling Manhattan escort service, has gone national in recent years, flying women to 22 cities around the country to be "nightlife companions" for customers who pay up to $1,500 an hour.
While the company's Web site warned that the customers should not expect sex, federal customs officials in New York said yesterday that the company was essentially a prostitution racket. Two owners and two employees of New York Elites were arrested Monday on federal charges of interstate prostitution and money laundering, accused of concealing at least $5.5 million in illegal revenues. At a hearing yesterday in Federal District Court in Manhattan, one owner, Elena Trochtchenkova, 40, said she was not guilty, and was released on a $1 million personal bond. The other owner, Rady Abdel Salem Abbassy, a 45-year-old Egyptian, remains in custody because he is an illegal immigrant, said the prosecutor, Benjamin Gruenstein.
Documents and ledgers seized by federal agents showed that the company's owners set up dummy firms to launder the cash and credit card payments the women received for their services, the authorities said.
Operating from offices at 12 East 32nd Street in Manhattan, New York Elites offered its services on a Web site that let a customer choose an escort on the basis of a personal profile and fetching photographs. The company had at least 200 women on its roster, with as many as 40 active each day, said Martin D. Ficke, the senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent in New York.
According to the complaint, after clients called a telephone number listed on the Web site, and were screened to determine if they were law enforcement officers, they could hire women according to looks or the type of sex acts they were willing to do, the authorities said.
The complaint is based on testimony from three cooperating witnesses who worked as escorts, Mr. Ficke said.
New York Elites' Web site says the company is "a referral service for independent contractors," and adds, "We do not provide illegal sexual activities."
In a search of the company's offices on Monday, agents found a box of index cards detailing sex acts the women would and would not engage in, and their rates. The agents also recovered a list of clients' names and credit card receipts.
The company rented hotel rooms in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and other cities, where the escorts would stay for up to two weeks at a time. In September 2003 alone, the company paid $61,434 in hotel bills, the complaint said.
Ms. Trochtchenkova and Mr. Abbassy charged the escorts a 50 percent commission and set up bank accounts in the names of at least two nonexistent companies, through which they moved their earnings to conceal the origin of the money, prosecutors said.
Two employees who were also arrested, Valerie Hairston and Nancy Khaja, were released on bail. Ms. Trochtchenkova, Mr. Abbassy and Ms. Hairston each face up to 30 years in prison and an $11 million fine. Ms. Khaja, who was a receptionist, faces lesser charges.

4/17/05

From the New York Daily News:

The alleged ringleaders of a multimillion- dollar cyberprostitution ring ran as many as a dozen Internet escort services, and the feds are trying to determine if the profits were laundered through their popular Brooklyn restaurant, the Daily News has learned.

When federal agents busted NYElites last week, they unraveled a web of Internet escort services that claimed to offer Penthouse models and high-profile porn stars - as well as "college cuties and girls-next-door" - as dates for big-money johns.

A host of other Manhattan-based escort services, using names like Exotica 2000, Ce Soir, Night Flight Escorts and Camelot, share the same Manhattan addresses and phone numbers as NYElites.

Federal Customs agents have expanded the case to 22 other cities. "There will be more search warrants and more arrrests," a source close to the probe told the Daily News.

In its Helpful Hints, the NYElites Web site advised: "If you are of high profile or fear that your spouse or business associate may find out, we suggest you pay in cash or get a cash advance on your credit card. This way you'll have no explaining to do."

But some well-heeled johns are no doubt doing just that.

When the feds raided NYElites' headquarters at 12 E. 32nd St. they seized a ledger one investigator called "the holy grail" of the probe. It contains "a list of male names, believed to be client names" and how much they paid with credit card slips, and E-mails detailing travel arrangements.

The investigation is spearheaded by money laundering experts with the Eldorado Task Force in the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement division.

The NYElites ring was a "large organization and national in scope, involving about 200 prostitutes with between 30 and 40 active on any given day," said Martin Ficke, chief of immigration and customs enforcement in New York.

Between 2001 and 2004, the escort service allegedly raked in $5.5 million in credit card payments alone. "We expect the actual amount to be much higher since NYElites encouraged cash payments," Ficke said.

The feds have charged Elena Trochtchenkova, 40, and her 45-year-old paramour, Rady Abdel Salem Abbassy, also known as Rody Alexander, as the ringleaders. If convicted they face 30 years in prison and an $11 million fine.

Abbassy, an Egyptian, was jailed because he allegedly is in the U.S. illegally after being deported for a 1985 marijuana conviction. Trochtchenkova, born in Ukraine, was released after posting her $1 million home in Forest Hills Gardens as bail.

Also charged were Valerie Hairston and Nancy Kahja, who allegedly dispatched escorts and maintained a card file with their "pictures, physical descriptions and a description of the sexual activities" they would engage in, according to court papers.

Hairston and Kahja were released on $100,000 bond each.

"This was a business that operated legally as an escort service," said Trochtchenkova's attorney, Isabelle Krischner. "If some of these women did other things, they did it on their own and by their own choice."

NYElites' elaborate Web site was taken off-line Wednesday.

When it was up and running, a busty brunette in high heels and black see-through slip welcomed prospective clients to peruse dozens of seductively posed escorts, complete with pictures, physical measurements and dates of availability.

The women worked one- or two-week tours in various cities around the country, according to the criminal complaint.

Due to "the wide array of packages and services, all pricing is discussed over the phone," the Web site advised. The feds say rates varied from $500 to $1,500 an hour. The hookers split the money 50-50 with NYElites, according to court papers.

Court papers did not name any of the alleged hookers, and it was not clear whether any would be charged. Three of the escorts who allegedly turned tricks for NYElites have turned states' evidence.

Federal agents launched the investigation after receiving a tip about the operation from a foreign law-enforcement agency that suspected women smuggled into the country were forced into prostitution with NYElites, Ficke said. However, he said agents found no evidence to support that allegation.

Public filings show Trochtchenkova to be president of the escort services Exotica Productions and Ce Soir of New York. She also is listed as CEO of E.R.A. International Group, which owns Barracuda Seafood Restaurant, a Bay Ridge eatery noted for fresh fruit martinis.

A local weekly newspaper account last year also identified Rody Alexander as one of the owners of the Barracuda and noted that the Third Ave. restaurant had undergone an expensive renovation.

Federal agents "are seeking to determine whether the profits passed through the restaurant," a source close to the case said.

The feds believe Trochtchenkova and Abbassy laundered prostitution profits through "at least 15 shell companies," Ficke said.

Court papers identify only two: London Fox and Royal Papyrus, which allegedly were used to pay hookers. The businesses share the same address as NYElites.

"There is no doubt that some of the money was sent outside the United States," the source told The News.

Although the ring apparently recruited cyberhookers from the $1.7 billion-a-year national porn industry, NYElites' also invited prospective escorts to apply through a form on its Web site.

Applicants were required to submit photos. "Do not send nudes," the site warned. "They will not be posted."

The escort service Web site provided a calendar showing which women were available on what dates in various cities. "All of our girls travel," it proclaimed.

"Arrangements can be made for those who would like one of NYElites' escorts to accompany them ... be it the rolling hills of Tuscany, the deep blue of the Mediterranean, isolated Tahiti, the fantastic islands of the Caribbean or anywhere ...."

NYElites apparently arranged travel through its own agency, Elite Travel, which shared the same phone number as the escort service.

"All particulars can be fulfilled by Elite Travel," the Web page said, including "airline arrangements, hotel accommodations, car rentals, nightlife events, tourist attractions and more."

The escort service also booked airline tickets and hotels through Hotwire. The Internet-based travel agency was said to be cooperating with the feds.

NYElite clients were expected to book at least three days in advance. "We accept all major credit cards," the online blurb said. "But most of our longstanding clientele pays in cash."

4/20/05

Allison Kilgore Update

Allison emails:

Hi Luke this Allison here remember me? I just want to say that I do not like the fact that I was listed in you little e2k writing, considering the fact that I have not been a part of that for quite some time now. Please do not get me wrong I am not trying to bitchy about all of this I just do not like the fact that my alter ego which is me is being named in all of this. I would never be a part of anything that had to do with terrorism! And I do not really believe for a second that was even the case. The plain truth of it all is that having sex for money is prostitution and it is illegal! The only place where it is not illegal is in Los Angeles only if it is able to be documented on film and video and is able to be distributed and sold through out the world. The only reason they got busted was just for that and taxes! The truth is that there is no way that someone can try to run an illegal business and the then try to present as being legit in the business world "the real world." That is what this all comes down to.

Do not get me wrong, I do know Lana, and I do like her for the person I know her as, but come on this all ridiculous! As far as I am concerned we all have gotten cheated out of money and what ever else when it all comes down to the point of it all. That is why a lot of girls turn to a business like Lana's. Her business was safe to an extent. It is only about condoms, so one would never have to worry about a scare of HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease as well as not really having your face plastered every where. I mean what was really in the harm of all of that? In the porn world everyone is trying to f--- you no matter what and take from you what ever they can get out you. In the porn world some have to deal with f---ed up agents who try to f--- you take your money as well as the talent taking the risk on a daily basis of being to std's as well as life threatening std's.

Seriously, tell me how many people out there in the porn world shoot with condoms and do not do internal cum shots any more? I know there is a such thing but it is just a tiny fraction. I could jump right back into the biz with a negative test all the way, I know this because I continue to get tested. Then I could f--- some guy in the porn biz who has a negative test that he just got about a week ago. But the guy failed to mention that he f---ed some girl the night before who had HIV, of course he did not mention it, he does not know yet. So in the whole realm of it all who really has the right to say what is safe sex or legal sex?

From the New York Daily News 5/11/05:

An indictment unsealed yesterday alleges that New York Elites sent prostitutes around the world at the request of well-heeled customers.

The indictment was filed against alleged ringleaders Elena Trochtchenkova and her boyfriend, Rady Abdel Salem Abbassy, who were initially charged with dispatching hookers to 22 cities in the United States.

The indictment alleges that prostitutes were dispatched to other locales on two-week "tours." It did not specify where outside of the U.S. the hookers were sent.

While on "tour," prostitutes work out of hotel rooms booked by New York Elites or Exotica 2000, the indictment said.

The indictment also alleges that Trochtchenkova and Abbassy used money derived from the prostitution business to fund a Brooklyn seafood eatery, Barracuda Restaurant in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

Prosecutors said the hooker ring took in $13.5 million between 2001 and 2004.

2 plead guilty in 13M prosty ring

From the New York Daily News Jan 7, 2006:

A man and his girlfriend have pleaded guilty to raking in $13.5 million over the last four years from a prostitution ring that promised porn stars as escorts, Manhattan federal prosecutors said yesterday.

Ringleader Rady Abdel Salem Abbassy, 45, pleaded guilty to money-laundering charges Thursday, becoming the most recent of 10 defendants to admit involvement with the Manhattan-based sex ring.

Federal prosecutors say that between 2000 and 2004, the operation advertised New York Elites and Exotica 2000 as escort services on the Internet. "In reality, however, the service offered by New York Elites/Exotica 2000 was simply sex in exchange for money," said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia.

The ring's Web site touted popular adult film stars as escorts for $500 to $1,500 an hour. It also promised to send escorts for trips outside New York.

Prosecutors say Abbassy and his girlfriend, co-owner Elena Trochtchenkova, 40, set up front companies to cloak the source of their income. The millions paid for a home for Trochtchenkova as well as a Brooklyn restaurant they co-owned. Trochtchenkova pleaded guilty Dec. 30 to five felony charges, including transporting individuals for prostitution and money laundering. She faces up to 75 years in prison. Abbassy faces up to 40 years. Eight other employees who answered phones and processed payments have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges.