PORTLAND, Maine - Brothel kingpin Gary Reiner should pay the federal government $3.9 million for money he laundered while operating a prostitution business out of Kittery's Danish Health Club, says the Maine U.S. attorney's office in a motion filed Monday.
In response, Reiner objects to the big ticket penalty, arguing the $3.9 million figure was improperly calculated.
Filed with Portland's U. S. District Court, the federal government's final order of forfeiture recommends the $3.9 million penalty in advance of Reiner's sentencing, scheduled for Thursday. Reiner is asking the court to sentence him to a single day in jail followed by 364 days of house arrest, while the prosecution is seeking a prison sentence in excess of eight years.
In its motion to the court, the prosecution seeks to penalize the brothel boss monetarily for the total amount he and his co-conspirators laundered during four years of the prostitution operation - the tenure forming the basis of his federal convictions on prostitution and money laundering charges.
In response, Reiner filed a motion objecting "to the extent that the Order infers that Mr. Reiner has an interest in $3.9 plus million dollars, or that he has the money to forfeit."
Reiner also filed an objection to the government's order, stating it does not include credit for prior monetary forfeitures against brothel bookkeeper Mary Ann Manzoli. Also, that the forfeiture order doesn't account for federal taxes paid by the now-defunct brothel's corporate entities, Manzoli and the estate of deceased club co-founder, Joel Lehrer.
Judge D. Brock Hornby is expected to rule on Reiner's prison sentence and monetary forfeiture during Thursday's sentencing hearing.
Prosecutor Todd Lowell is asking the court for an "upward departure," or harsher than typical prison sentence.
That two of Reiner's co-conspirators were convicted and sentenced to jail for bringing a 13-year-old girl to the Kittery club, where she was trained to work as a prostitute, should factor into a decision about the length of jail time Reiner serves, argues Lowell. According to the prosecutor, a non-public presentencing report also "identifies other minors who worked at the club," while Reiner was its top manager.
Reiner was not convicted on any charges related to minors, but for the sexual exploitation of children in the club on his watch, Reiner should be punished to the fullest, argues Lowell.
