Emperors Club VIP

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Empire Club VIP logo
Emperors Club VIP web ad for the companionship services of a model named "Samantha."
Emperors Club VIP web ad for the companionship services of a model named "Samantha."

The Emperors Club VIP was an illegal prostitution ring based in New York.[1] The company was founded in or about August 2004,[2] and operated multiple front bank accounts with names like "QAT Consulting Group, INC" and "QAT International, INC".[3] Suspicious money transfers to these accounts by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer prompted a federal investigation of Emperors Club VIP that led to its demise in March 2008 (prostitution is illegal in New York). Following public reports of his patronage of the Emperors Club VIP, Governor Spitzer (also known as client #9) announced his resignation from office.

In its heyday, the Emperors Club VIP was an international escort agency that solicited wealthy male clients via a web site that rated its women on a scale from "three diamonds" to "seven diamonds" and charged accordingly.[4] The ring had fifty call girls available for appointments in New York, Washington, Miami, London and Paris.[5] The appointments, made by telephone or through an online booking service, cost between $1,000 and $5,500 per hour and could be paid by cash, credit cards, wire transfers or money orders. A woman who was top-rated at "seven diamonds" could cost as much as $31,000 per day.[4] By March 11, 2008, the Emperors Club VIP website, emperorsclubvip.com, was shut down.

Contents

[edit] Buyouts

If a member of the club wished to date a model (i.e. escort) privately, the club would negotiate a buyout. The member would pay a mutually agreed upon lump sum “to compensate the company for its role in and allocation of valuable resources which make it possible for this relationship to occur between the client and model.” [6]

[edit] Samantha (and Client–3)

The agency's booking agent spoke with a customer court documents identify as "Client–3" on January 24. "Client-3" scheduled a tryst in a Santa Monica, California, hotel with an escort named "Samantha" at the rate of $1,500 an hour. The agency required prior receipt of a 55-percent deposit to finalize the appointment. Prosecutors speculated the agency wanted to ensure it would receive its portion of the payment, since the agency believed "Samantha" was abusing drugs. Thereafter, "Samantha" met with Client–3.[7]

[edit] Client–9 (Eliot Spitzer)

Main article: Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer (D), identified during the federal investigation as "Client 9," had procured services from the Emperors Club on several occasions. His most recent appointment, at the Mayflower Hotel in February 2008 was "Kristen", real name Ashley Alexandra Dupré,[8] described as an "American, petite, very pretty brunette, 5 feet 5 inches and 105 pounds."[9] Governor Spitzer campaigned on a promise that "ethics and integrity to be the hallmarks of [his] administration." He had prosecuted several prostitution rings in his career.[10][11][12][13]

[edit] Other alleged clients

The United Kingdom's Daily Mail and other British news outlets reported that "the escort agency at the heart of the scandal surrounding New York was allegedly also used by the Duke of Westminster."[14] His lawyers denied the allegations, claiming he was not in London on the dates in the report.[15][16] Alleged Emperors Club VIP former escort Zana Brazdek reported in an interview with British tabloid News of the World that she had met with the Duke as part of her work with the organization. The now-deceased Lord Shaftesbury was also named as a client of Emperors Club VIP in the article.[17]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rashbaum, William K.. Revelations Began in Routine Tax Inquiry. www.nytimes.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.
  2. ^ Internet Archive Wayback Machine
  3. ^ United States of America V. Mark Brener, pg. 6-7
  4. ^ a b "Emperors Club: All About Eliot Spitzer's Alleged Prostitution Ring", Huffington Post, March 2008.
  5. ^ According to a complaint unsealed in Federal District Court in Manhattan.
  6. ^ Emperors Club buyout web page archive
  7. ^ cbs2.com - Beverly Hills, Santa Monical Hotels Linked To Emperors Club VIP
  8. ^ Serge F. Kovaleski and Ian Urbina (2008-03-13). Ashley Alexandra Dupre - Woman at the Center of Eliot Spitzer's Downfall. www.nytimes.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  9. ^ Source: Spitzer investigated for link to prostitution ring. cnn.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.
  10. ^ "Sources: Spitzer Resignation Expected: Lt. Gov. David Paterson Could Be Sworn In Within 48 Hours, Spitzer Retains Powerful Manhattan Law Firm", WCBS-TV, 2008-03-12. 
  11. ^ Bovzar, Chris; Pressler, Jessica. "Report: Governor Spitzer Involved With 'Prostitution Ring'", New York Magazine, 2008-03-10. 
  12. ^ Office of the New York State Attorney General (2004-04-07). "Operators of "Escort Services" Indicted: Authorities Say the Business Was a Front for a Massive Prostitution Ring". Press release.
  13. ^ Rashbaum, William K. "18 Arrested in Lucrative Prostitution Ring out of Staten Island", The New York Times, 2004-04-08. Retrieved on 2008-03-12. 
  14. ^ "Disgraced New York governor forced to quit after spending $80,000 on call girls over six years." Daily Mail. 2008-03-12. (17:40 GMT).
  15. ^ Duke Of Westminster: Prostitution Client, Allegedly, Of Emperors Club VIP. www.huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
  16. ^ England's Dreaming: Richest Man in Britain Threatens Every Paper in the Nation. gawker.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
  17. ^ Hooker exposes BRITISH VIPs using sex club that ruined New York governor. News of the World. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.

[edit] External links