Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Spitzer's Sex Ring Run by Unlikely Madams

Emperor's Club's pimp, madams were well-educated novices

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 7, 2008 7:35 AM CDT

(Newser) – The prostitution ring that Eliot Spitzer patronized had at its center an unlikely quartet: a 62-year-old former tax specialist and three highly educated women, one only 23 years old. All four have pleaded not guilty to a host of charges, including prostitution, in federal court. The New York Times investigates what drove the managers of the 3-year-old Emperor's Club to careers as a pimp and madams.

Mark Brener began pimping to pay off his late wife's medical bills, dying his hair black and recruiting three women to help with the operation. One was Temeka Lewis, a bookish UVa grad, who paired clients with escorts. Fellow dispatcher Tanya Hollander was an aspiring holistic living counselor, while Brener's 23-year-old girlfriend was a grad of a tony New Jersey prep school.

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer announces his resignation Wednesday, March 12, 2008, in his offices in New York. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin, FILE)

This 2006 image obtained March, 12, 2008 from a MySpace webpage shows "Kristen," alleged to be the prostitute hired by Eliot Spitzer from the Emperors' Club. (AP Photo)

New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer makes a statement to reporters during a news conference, in this March 10, 2008 file photo. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Spitzer Madam Pleads Guilty in 'Disgusting' Operation

Plea deal could land 23-year-old up to 27 months in jail

(NEWSER) - The woman who managed the prostitution ring that brought down New York governor Eliot Spitzer copped a plea yesterday in federal court, the AP reports. Cecil Suwal, 23, giggled and cried during a Manhattan hearing at which she pleaded guilty to money-laundering and promoting prostitution at the Emperors Club VIP service, where clients like Spitzer paid up to $5,500 an hour. More»

Busted Teen 'Madam' Rips Pimp Charges

Ariz. 16-year-old denies running ring, says she was only a follower

(NEWSER) - A 16-year-old girl charged with running a child prostitution ring calls the charges "ridiculous," the Arizona Republic reports. The girl and a pal were the madams of a ring that recruited girls as young as 14 to have sex for money, according to Phoenix police. "We have two girls who are, in essence, pimps," said a police spokesman. "They ran their own brothel." The teen admits being involved in prostitution but insists she was only a follower. More»

Spitzer Madam Gets 6 Months

Teary Cecil Suwal asked judge for mercy

(NEWSER) - The 24-year-old who ran the call-girl ring that brought down Eliot Spitzer will serve 6 months in prison, the New York Daily News reports. Cecil Suwal of New York, who has pleaded guilty to money laundering and conspiring to promote prostitution, wept as she asked the judge for mercy. "It is my aim to prevent others, especially young girls, from making the kind of mistakes that I have made," she said. More»

Feds Won't Charge Spitzer

Not enough evidence against former NY governor in prostitution case

(NEWSER) - Former New York governor Eliot Spitzer will not be charged in connection with his involvement in a prostitution ring, the New York Times reports, as federal prosecutors could not adequately connect payments made by Spitzer. “The public interest would not be further advanced by filing criminal charges in this matter,” the US attorney for New York said in a written statement. More»

Feds Nail Down Case Against Spitzer

Feds are confident about the case against the former NY guv

(NEWSER) - The case against Eliot Spitzer is so strong that prosecutors have decided not to strike a deal with the head of the disgraced ex-governor's preferred call girl ring, the New York Post reports. Rather than making a plea agreement, the Emperors Club VIP honcho will plead guilty Thursday. Meanwhile, the feds are probing whether Spitzer used campaign funds to pay for his $4,000-an-hour trysts. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Spitzer's Sex Ring Run by Unlikely Madams

Emperor's Club's pimp, madams were well-educated novices

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Eliot Spitzer • prostitution ring • Emperors Club • Mark Brener • Temeka Lewis • Tanya Hollander • pimp • madams

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Spitzer Madam Pleads Guilty in 'Disgusting' Operation

Plea deal could land 23-year-old up to 27 months in jail

Busted Teen 'Madam' Rips Pimp Charges

Ariz. 16-year-old denies running ring, says she was only a follower

Spitzer Madam Gets 6 Months

Teary Cecil Suwal asked judge for mercy

Feds Won't Charge Spitzer

Not enough evidence against former NY governor in prostitution case

Feds Nail Down Case Against Spitzer

Feds are confident about the case against the former NY guv

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Spitzer's Sex Ring Run by Unlikely Madams

Emperor's Club's pimp, madams were well-educated novices

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Eliot Spitzer • prostitution ring • Emperors Club • Mark Brener • Temeka Lewis • Tanya Hollander • pimp • madams

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Spitzer Madam Pleads Guilty in 'Disgusting' Operation

Plea deal could land 23-year-old up to 27 months in jail

Busted Teen 'Madam' Rips Pimp Charges

Ariz. 16-year-old denies running ring, says she was only a follower

Spitzer Madam Gets 6 Months

Teary Cecil Suwal asked judge for mercy

Feds Won't Charge Spitzer

Not enough evidence against former NY governor in prostitution case

Feds Nail Down Case Against Spitzer

Feds are confident about the case against the former NY guv

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?