Monday, May 11, 2009
Story at http://www.ocregister.com/
Woman accused of $8.5 million porn star prostitution business
Michele Braun pleads not guilty in federal court but is expected to change her plea.
By RACHANEE SRISAVASDI
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
SANTA ANA – A Florida woman appeared in federal court here today, accused of having pocketed more than $8.5 million from an online prostitution business that employed pornography stars and fashion models.
Michelle Braun – accused of charging clients $50,000 or more per night with a prostitute – pleaded not guilty to two charges filed in March. She is charged with money laundering and transporting an individual from Orange County to New York City for the purposes of prostitution.
Today, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Block allowed Braun to remain free on $20,000 bond pending her next pretrial hearing before U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney on June 29. Braun is expected to change her plea to guilty on that day or at a later date.
Braun, who lives in Boca Raton, has agreed to cooperate fully with federal authorities, according to her plea agreement, filed on March 31.
The agreement indicates that prosecutors and Braun suggest the judge sentence her to five years of probation with no more than six months of home confinement, as well as a $30,000 fine.
She had faced between 12 to 18 months in prison and between a $3,000 and $30,000 fine, according to the government’s calculation of federal guidelines.
During today’s hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug McCormick told Block he did not oppose Braun remaining out of custody – noting that she traveled here from Florida to be at the hearing. He also said Braun has been aware of the government investigation into the case, which he said has lasted 18 months.
Braun and her lawyer, Ellyn S. Garofalo, later declined to comment on the case. When asked about her occupation, Braun said she "ran an investment fund."
McCormick also declined to comment.
Braun allegedly operated an online business through her corporation, Global Travel Network, Inc., with the assistance of her husband and sister, according to court records in a separate money-forfeiture case involving Braun.
The company was "disguised as a travel and security business and was used to facilitate the laundering of Braun’s prostitution proceeds,” wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank D. Kortum. The government is seeking to take about $325,000 in the related case.
Braun’s clients paid thousands of dollars to be set up with the prostitutes – who were advertised to be adult film stars, top professional fashion models, centerfolds and actresses, Kortum wrote.
Braun’s clients first paid a $1,500 introduction fee, according to the government.
"Travel fees started at $8,000 per day and the Platinum Club range started at $8,000 and went up to more than $50,000 for an evening of undiluted pleasure,” Kortum wrote.
On one Web site, Braun listed specific details of "guaranteed privacy, exclusivity and quality,” according to court records.
Seventy-one women worked for Braun – 50 who were listed online as residing in Los Angeles, while two lived in Orange County, according to Kortum. Each of the women had a photograph and a detailed bio, which listed their sexual fantasies, he wrote.
The alleged ring was discovered after an undercover FBI agent submitted a membership application on the Web site in March 2006, according to Kortum.
After paying a $2,500 retainer fee, the agent had access to photos of 138 women, including porn star McKenzie Lee, Kortum wrote.
Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman, said the case against Braun is part of an ongoing investigation and that additional charges or arrests are possible.
The women of porn commit crime too?! This is the kind of report I miss on the real Luke Ford’s many former porn news/gossip sites.
Wow ! Probation and a Fine..Not Bad for an $8.5 mill haul…Good Job!
“Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman, said the case against Braun is part of an ongoing investigation and that additional charges or arrests are possible.”
“Wow ! Probation and a Fine..Not Bad for an $8.5 mill haul…Good Job!”
Boys and girls, the show have just started. I wonder who is next. Maybe a certain “hired cnsultant” to her “business” who is know to all of us as the “Earl of Pimpwich”.
Gimme an R
Gimme an I
Gimme an C
Gimme an O
R-I-C-O
Wonder who are going to be the witnesses.
Got my popcorn at the ready. Justice is comming, no matter what we do.
This is gonna be one funny case, they should make a movie about it….
As my friend Harvey Dent told Police Commisioner Gordon in the Dark Knight, “under RICO, if you can indict one member of a group of a felony you can indict the whole group”.
I think Harvey is grosly simplifiying RICO but as Mark J noted on XPT;
What will happend to the porn modeling agencies trade association once it becomes clear that severa major porn agencies are also big illegal prostitution and money laundering rackets?
Hell, they indicted Eddie Nash on Rico by dragging back from the dead John Holmes and Greg Diles.
Rics, are they also eyeing Shy Love? Didn’t someone at XPT say her driver drugs and rapes all her girls and she damn well knows this too?
The rumor that Shy Love and Shyla Stylez have been arrested escorting is unconfirmed but something seems to be happening to them too.
BTW have someone noticed that AdultFYI took down his entry on Pimpwich and the Michelle Braun plea bargain.
The Earl has some pull over Gene?
Please tell me you saved the AdultFYI story. What did it say? Is Derek, who is in porn, planning on ratting out the rest of the porn world? Why would they plea with him when he’s the bigger evil?
Out of all the girls handled by Bella Models, why was McKenzie’s name made public? Was that some sort of personal swipe at her, because she is trying to come back to porn as a contract girl?
Damm, I do not know but any most pornwhores sold pussy in Bellamodels open catalog anyways.
But McKenzie is not the best known of the stable (not like that WWE female wrestler) so it is strange that she’s being outed.
FPSP, McKenzie Lee may have been outed because she is/was(?) married to a former cop (as a kinda warning to former/current cops to stop associating with porn stars). I think McKenzie told the real Luke Ford this when he interviewed her, and/or the husband a few years ago.
Ok, I get it. I hope she is not hurt by that disclosure.
I just read how Michelle rolled over on her girls. So are the girls’ names being released Michelle’s doing or the FBI? I was happy she was able to get such a great deal but not at the expense of her girls. This can destroy many things for a lot of the women.
And remember, Trannyfucker has mentioned in his blog how he advised on sex LAPD cops that goes to his gym (straight or gay sex? Im intrigued). And also of arranging “dates” between cops and Pimpwich porn whores.
We all remember a certain Canadian PW dating a deputy Sheriff in the OC, the same Canadian PW that was rumored to has been arrested escorting for Ms Ed. Or I know the case in which a model for a sofcore magazine that started in Larry Horse home state who was arrested escorting for the Earl and the business associates who run the whole escort thing so he can claim Pimpwich is just a porn talent agency (some girls in his other catalog has never shot a single scene). The girl in question was presured under death threats to change her statement. That also happened in the OC. I know the name of the defense lawyer for the girl. The Earl and his minions knew the nature of a private police statement. No wonder why the Bureau has to get involved.
So outing McKenzie Lee due to her law enforcement connections makes sense. Is a warning.
You read here first, of the record, on the QT and very hush hush.