Spring Break
Woman involved in Spitzer sex scandal pleads guilty
June 4, 2008
Anthony M. DeStefano - NewsdayIssue date: 5/29/08 Section: Real News
A young woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges that she ran an international prostitution ring that authorities say set up a sexual liaison between former Gov. Eliot Spitzer and a call girl.
Cecil Suwal, 23, of the Bronx, admitted to U.S. District Judge Barbara Jones in Manhattan that for more than three years she took part in the conspiracy to run the Emperors Club VIP and launder the sex business' money. Suwal remains free on bail until she is sentenced in September. She faces up to 27 months in prison.
According to a two-count federal criminal information, Suwal ran the Emperors Club Web site, helped hire prostitutes and arranged dates for the women. Some clients paid as much as $50,000 for extended dates with the prostitutes, said investigators.
Court records and law enforcement sources have previously indicated that Spitzer met at the Mayflower Hotel with an Emperors Club prostitute on Feb. 13 in Washington, D.C. One of the acts in the conspiracy charge against Suwal referred to travel by a prostitute from New York to Washington on that date, although Spitzer's name is not mentioned in the court papers.
While some sources had speculated that Suwal was cooperating with investigators, her plea agreement didn't mention any requirement that she help the continuing probe. Her defense attorney, Alberto Ebanks, didn't return a telephone call for comment.
The criminal information also charged Suwal with opening up bank accounts used to launder Emperors Club proceeds. Suwal was accused of using the accounts to pay more than $400,000 to prostitutes in the United States and Europe.
Cecil Suwal, 23, of the Bronx, admitted to U.S. District Judge Barbara Jones in Manhattan that for more than three years she took part in the conspiracy to run the Emperors Club VIP and launder the sex business' money. Suwal remains free on bail until she is sentenced in September. She faces up to 27 months in prison.
According to a two-count federal criminal information, Suwal ran the Emperors Club Web site, helped hire prostitutes and arranged dates for the women. Some clients paid as much as $50,000 for extended dates with the prostitutes, said investigators.
Court records and law enforcement sources have previously indicated that Spitzer met at the Mayflower Hotel with an Emperors Club prostitute on Feb. 13 in Washington, D.C. One of the acts in the conspiracy charge against Suwal referred to travel by a prostitute from New York to Washington on that date, although Spitzer's name is not mentioned in the court papers.
While some sources had speculated that Suwal was cooperating with investigators, her plea agreement didn't mention any requirement that she help the continuing probe. Her defense attorney, Alberto Ebanks, didn't return a telephone call for comment.
The criminal information also charged Suwal with opening up bank accounts used to launder Emperors Club proceeds. Suwal was accused of using the accounts to pay more than $400,000 to prostitutes in the United States and Europe.
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