Charge Filed In High-End Denver Prostitution Ring

DENVER (CBS4) - Federal authorities have filed one count of tax evasion against a controversial Denver businessman for allegedly operating, then selling a high-end prostitution business known as Denver Sugar/Denver Players.

CBS4 was in federal court Tuesday afternoon when the United States attorney announced the charge against Scottie J. Ewing, who currently operates a "swingers club" -- the Sugar House -- on West Alameda in Denver.

According to the criminal information filed Tuesday, beginning in 2005 and continuing through 2006, Ewing operated, then sold "a prostitution business known as Denver Sugar/Denver Players and used an entity called Sindicate Media & Consulting, LLC to perform business functions, such as credit card processing, to disguise from the Internal Revenue Service the true source and amount of the income he received from Denver Sugar/Denver Players."

Ewing's attorney, Dan Sears, told CBS4, "He (Ewing) has admitted to not filing taxes for 2005. He is assuming his responsibility to the U.S. Government and that about all we have to say at this point."

Sears declined to answer specific questions regarding the prostitution business. But multiple well-placed sources have previously told CBS4 Ewing sold the high-end prostitution business to a woman named Brenda Stewart, who operated it out of a home in the City Park neighborhood of Denver until it was broken up by law enforcement authorities in 2008.

Stewart has not been charged with a crime but has been under investigation since authorities shut down the business. It allegedly provided highly-paid call girls to well- heeled Denver businessmen, lawyers and professional athletes.

In April 2008, CBS4 contacted Ewing regarding his ownership of the prostitution business. A representative for Ewing e-mailed back saying, "I'm advised to tell you that Scottie is not available for comment on any personal matters, nor will discuss anything with the media unless it pertains to Sugar House and the innovative things we have going on in the Denver nightclub industry."

-- Written by Brian Maass