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Porn stars who are involved with escort services might want to take a closer look at this story.
NYC- A man and his girlfriend have pleaded guilty to raking in $13.5 million over the last four years from a prostitution ring that promised porn stars as escorts, Manhattan federal prosecutors said yesterday.
Ringleader Rady Abdel Salem Abbassy, 45, pleaded guilty to money-laundering charges Thursday, becoming the most recent of 10 defendants to admit involvement with the Manhattan-based sex ring.
Federal prosecutors say that between 2000 and 2004, the operation advertised New York Elites and Exotica 2000 as escort services on the Internet.
"In reality, however, the service offered by New York Elites/Exotica 2000 was simply sex in exchange for money," said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia.
The ring's Web site touted popular adult film stars as escorts for $500 to $1,500 an hour. It also promised to send escorts for trips outside New York.
Prosecutors say Abbassy and his girlfriend, co-owner Elena Trochtchenkova, 40, set up front companies to cloak the source of their income.
The millions paid for a home for Trochtchenkova as well as a Brooklyn restaurant they co-owned. Trochtchenkova pleaded guilty Dec. 30 to five felony charges, including transporting individuals for prostitution and money laundering. She faces up to 75 years in prison. Abbassy faces up to 40 years.
Eight other employees who answered phones and processed payments have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges. The investigation was headed by the New York office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
NYC- A man and his girlfriend have pleaded guilty to raking in $13.5 million over the last four years from a prostitution ring that promised porn stars as escorts, Manhattan federal prosecutors said yesterday.
Ringleader Rady Abdel Salem Abbassy, 45, pleaded guilty to money-laundering charges Thursday, becoming the most recent of 10 defendants to admit involvement with the Manhattan-based sex ring.
Federal prosecutors say that between 2000 and 2004, the operation advertised New York Elites and Exotica 2000 as escort services on the Internet.
"In reality, however, the service offered by New York Elites/Exotica 2000 was simply sex in exchange for money," said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia.
The ring's Web site touted popular adult film stars as escorts for $500 to $1,500 an hour. It also promised to send escorts for trips outside New York.
Prosecutors say Abbassy and his girlfriend, co-owner Elena Trochtchenkova, 40, set up front companies to cloak the source of their income.
The millions paid for a home for Trochtchenkova as well as a Brooklyn restaurant they co-owned. Trochtchenkova pleaded guilty Dec. 30 to five felony charges, including transporting individuals for prostitution and money laundering. She faces up to 75 years in prison. Abbassy faces up to 40 years.
Eight other employees who answered phones and processed payments have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges. The investigation was headed by the New York office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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