Federal jury convicts escort service operator

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal jury convicted a woman Tuesday of running a prostitution service that catered to members of Washington’s political elite.

Deborah Jeane Palfrey, 52, sighed as the verdict was read. She had repeatedly denied that the escort service engaged in prostitution, saying that if any of the women engaged in sex acts for money, they did so without her knowledge.

Palfrey caused a sensation last year when she announced that to raise money for her defense, she intended to sell her phone records to any news outlet willing to pay. Palfrey said her defunct business, Pamela Martin & Associates, was “a legal, high-end erotic fantasy service” that serviced elite clients.

She was convicted on all counts she faced: money laundering, using the mail for illegal purposes and racketeering.

Three of Palfrey’s clients testified during the weeklong trial in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, explaining how they found the service, how often they called, what they were hoping for and whether they got it during their visits.

“When a man agrees to pay $250 for 90 minutes with a woman, what do most men expect in that time?” prosecutor Daniel Butler said during closing arguments Monday. “In that context, it’s pretty clear. Most men want sex.”

But the trial concluded without revealing many new details about the service or its clients. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., was among possible witnesses, but did not take the stand.

Vitter has acknowledged being involved with Palfrey’s escort service. But after issuing brief statements apologizing for “a very serious sin,” he has avoided follow-up questions.