Woman in Spitzer prostitution ring to plead guilty

Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:24pm EDT
 
[-] Text [+]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An accused booking agent in a prostitution ring whose clients included former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer will plead guilty to a conspiracy charge relating to prostitution, her lawyer said on Monday.

Tanya Hollander was one of four people charged with running the Emperors Club VIP, a high-priced prostitution ring broken up this year. The other three have pleaded guilty.

Hollander, 36, pleaded not guilty in federal court on Monday but her lawyer, Michael Farkas, said later she would change the plea to guilty at an August 25 hearing.

Spitzer, who as state attorney general championed anti-prostitution legislation and cracked down on financial crimes, resigned as governor in March after The New York Times reported he was a client of the Emperors Club.

Spitzer has not been charged in the case and prosecutors refuse to say whether he will face charges.

Farkas said Spitzer had nothing to do with Hollander's case yet. He said Hollander's role in the ring was smaller than the other defendants and he hoped she would escape jail time under her plea deal.

(Reporting by Christine Kearney, editing by Daniel Trotta)

 

Commentary

A combination photo shows (L-R) New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, conservative commentator Lou Dobb and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in file photos.  REUTERS/Staff
Do these people have reason to smile?

Will the dreary economic New Normal create a political opening for Lou Dobbs, Michael Bloomberg or Sarah Palin -- or someone else with high visibility, deep pockets or both?  Blog 

Photo

Editor's Choice

A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours.  Slideshow 

Most Popular on Reuters

  • Articles
  • Video

Analysis

A street lamp is seen in front of the Datong second coal-fired power plant at night on the outskirts of Datong, Shanxi province, November 20,2009.  REUTERS/Jason Lee
China climate goal faces test of trust

Three little letters could spell big trouble for global climate change negotiations even after China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, announced its first firm goals to curb emissions.  Full Article