New York Law Man Nabbed as Pimp

 NEW YORK -- A man who reportedly bragged that he ran New York's most successful high-end escort service pleaded guilty Thursday to counts that arose from his arrest on charges of operating a prostitution business.

Jason Itzler, 39, pleaded guilty to money laundering and attempted promotion of prostitution in Manhattan's state Supreme Court in a deal that eliminated serious drug charges and will get him a sentence of 18 months to three years in prison.

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Itzler has said in interviews that he charged $2,000 an hour for one of his prostitutes, and his business cards called his service "Rocket Fuel for Winners." He operated out of a downtown loft just three blocks from the courthouse where he entered his guilty plea.

Itzler, a law school graduate, reportedly told Stuff magazine, "Nobody used to sell escorts like I did," and, "I was the first person to run an escort agency like a Jewish lawyer."

Itzler admitted to Justice Daniel FitzGerald on Thursday that he took part in transactions to hide money earned from criminal conduct, "specifically prostitution," and he admitted he had operated a brothel that employed "two or more prostitutes." "Those facts are true, your honor," said Itzler.

Assistant District Attorney Eugene Hurley said Itzler had waived his right to appeal and would not contest the seizure of a $60,000 Mercedes-Benz auto, a Cartier watch said to be worth $25,000, and $2,200 in cash, all presumed to be crime proceeds.

Hurley said Itzler also will plead guilty to similar charges in New Jersey in exchange for a three-year sentence. That sentence will run concurrently with the New York sentence, but Itzler will not get credit in New Jersey for the nearly 18 months he has already been jailed in New York.

Itzler's NY Confidential service -- described as "The Ultimate Girlfriends experience" -- was pricey. Authorities said one of his escorts agreed to have oral sex and intercourse with an undercover police officer for $990 at the W Hotel and the encounter would be billed to a credit card under the business name Gotham Steaks.

Itzler's lawyer, Barry Agulnick, said his client "possesses tremendous entrepreneurial skill, which, if harnessed in the right way, would lead to great success."

Several of Itzler's employees have been arrested on prostitution and other charges. Their cases are pending.

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Comments

[Tanuki]

Lori, I think you'd make New York's classiest "madame". Organize a huge muscle-woman prostitution service. When you're nabbed, unlike the hard-boiled Heidi Fleisch, you'd charm the media so thoroughly, the public would exhault you to glorious fame. Then you could run for govenor. On second thought, no; that'd be too sleezy (being govenor, that is, not a madame). Just kidding.

[Lori Victoria Braun]

Tanuki,
I have thought about it. For a while during the late 90's some of my friends called me the "the muscle madame." Things have changed for me now and I would not enjoy doing that. I like the idea. Govenor? Well, that would be interesting. I could run for Mayor of Hoboken. Nah... :)
This guy was popping his gum today. You know what I was thinking? Well, It was really mean.

[Tanuki]

What a legend you are!

Around 1996 I called your number for meeting female bodybuilders and wrestlers. The guy who answered the phone sounded like a thug, which is probably what prevented me from following through. He told me of course I was interested, and would always be interested, blah blah blah. It was kind of a lot of money for me at the time, anyway.