Isn’t that a happy ending term?
from www.detnews.com – A federal judge today ordered prosecutors to immediately turn over an unedited list of more than 30,000 alleged clients of the Miami Companions escort service.
The list must be turned over on a computer disk that cannot be copied or printed, and the list cannot be shared with the public, U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Tarnow [pictured] ruled. Tarnow also scheduled a March 22 trial date in the case.
Paul DeCailly, the lawyer representing Miami Companions co-owner Greg Carr, was seeking unfettered access to the escort service’s black book.
“I’ll take what the judge gives me,” DeCailly said today.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI were unsure if there was technology available to prevent the disk from being printed or copied. But Tarnow believed it was an elementary issue and told them to consult with the court’s information technology department.
“The technology is very basic,” Tarnow said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office cited privacy concerns in urging against the database’s release while DeCailly argued for a copy to help mount a defense. The list includes tens of thousands of customer names, sexual preferences and contact information.
The government was willing to provide an electronic copy of the black book with information redacted such as phone numbers, birthdates, addresses and driver’s license and Social Security numbers.
Many of the clients don’t live in the Eastern District of Michigan and, though their names are on the list, some people may not be clients, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Blackwell said.
“This is highly sensitive information,” Blackwell said, “and it may be used for nefarious purposes. It could be used to potentially harass and intimidate potential witnesses. It could be lost, stolen or used by others.”
DeCailly can have the black book for 30 days, Tarnow said.
Blackwell anticipates the trial would last two weeks.
The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office busted the international escort service in July.
The Miami-based sex ring dispatched dozens of prostitutes to hotels and beachfront villas around the world. Detroit was one of the alleged sex ring’s busiest stops in the United States, according to prosecutors.
Metro Detroit clients spent more than $167,000 between March 2007 and January 2009 on Miami Companions prostitutes, according to the feds, despite a prolonged recession, high unemployment and thousands of lost manufacturing jobs.
Greg Carr, 44, a Dearborn Heights native, is facing 11 counts of conspiracy to coerce and entice prostitution, coercion and enticement of prostitution, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The most severe charge carries a 20-year, $500,000 penalty.
Laurie Carr is the government’s key witness against her ex-husband and cut a plea deal with prosecutors that could bring a 12-month prison term if she provides substantial cooperation.