Emperors Club VIP was an international escort agency based in New York City, founded in 2004 by Mark Brener and Cecil Suwal and operated from the bank accounts of QAT Consulting Group, Inc., and QAT International, Inc.[1] The agency was shut down in March 2008 following a federal investigation into suspicious money transfers from New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, which led to the discovery of its operation as an illegal prostitution ring.[2] Following public reports of Spitzer's patronage as client #9, he resigned from office.
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sex trade |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founders | Mark Brener Cecil Suwal |
| Defunct | March 11, 2008 |
| Fate | Cease and desist of a criminal enterprise |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York, U.S. |
Key people | Mark Brener; Cecil Suwal; Temeka Rachelle Lewis; Tanya Hollander. |
| Products | Escorts, Dating, prostitutes |
Background
editEmperors Club VIP offered, via their internet website, the services of fifty escorts rated on a scale from three to seven diamonds for appointments in New York, Washington, Miami, London and Paris,[3] with fees commensurate with their rating.[4] Appointments could be made by telephone or online with fees from US$1,000 to US$5,500 per hour, payable by cash, credit card, money order or wire transfer. A top-rated seven-diamond model could cost as much as US$31,000 per day.[4]
Noted clients
editDuring a federal investigation, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was identified as having procured services in excess of US$80,000 from Emperors Club VIP over a period of two years. After campaigning on promises of ethics and integrity, and himself having prosecuted prostitution rings in his career,[5] Spitzer was forced to resign as Governor amid charges of hypocrisy, and threats of impeachment.[6][7][8]
The United Kingdom's then 3rd wealthiest man, the Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, was alleged by former Emperors Club VIP escort Zana Brazdek to have engaged her services through the company.[9] Attorneys responding on his behalf hold that the Duke was not in London on the dates she reports.[10]
References
edit- ^ United States of America v. Mark Brener, et al., Sealed Complaint, Count 2: para 8a-f, pg. 6-7 (United States District Court Southern Court of New York, 5 March 2008).
- ^ William K. Rashbaum (March 11, 2008). "Revelations Began in Routine Tax Inquiry". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
- ^ United States of America v. Mark Brener, et al., Affidavit in Support of Application for Arrest Warrants, Search Warrants and Seizure Warrants, Section II: The Emperors Club's Prostitution Crimes: Payment, para g 36-37, pg 17 (United States District Court Southern Court of New York, 5 March 2008).
- ^ a b HuffPost (March 10, 2008). "Emperors Club: All About Eliot Spitzer's Alleged Prostitution Ring". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on March 13, 2008. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
- ^ "Operators of "Escort Services" Indicted: Authorities Say the Business Was a Front for a Massive Prostitution Ring" (Press release). Office of the New York State Attorney General. April 7, 2004. Archived from the original on April 20, 2008. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
- ^ "Deadline: Republicans Threaten Impeachment". WCBS-TV. March 12, 2008. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
- ^ Bovzar, Chris; Pressler, Jessica (March 10, 2008). "Report: Governor Spitzer Involved With 'Prostitution Ring'". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
- ^ Rashbaum, William K (April 8, 2004). "18 Arrested in Lucrative Prostitution Ring out of Staten Island". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
- ^ Larry McShane (March 12, 2008). "Duke Of Westminster: Prostitution Client, Allegedly, of Emperors Club VIP". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on March 18, 2008. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
- ^ Pareene (March 13, 2008). "England's Dreaming: Richest Man in Britain Threatens Every Paper in the Nation". Gawker. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2008.