Suspected Denver Player's Club Madam Makes Plea Deal
DENVER (CBS4)- The woman who is thought to have run a high-end prostitution ring that catered to Denver's judges, lawyers and celebrities has agreed to a plea agreement.
Wednesday evening, Brenda Stewart pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and agreed to pay just over $45,000 in restitution. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped 69 other counts. Stewart was indicted on dozens of other charges, including tax evasion, money laundering, witness tampering and racketeering.
Federal agents said Stewart was the madam of a high-priced prostitution ring that went by the name Denver Sugar/Denver Players and catered to many of Denver's elite, including athletes, businessmen and politicians.
The federal agents said Stewart ran the operation out of a home in Denver's City Park neighborhood, advertising girls for $300 a hour.
The FBI raided the place in 2008, seizing computers, appointment books and tax records. They claim Stewart set up a fake media consulting company called "Phoenix Media" to hide her income.
While the prostitutes' names were released when the business was raided, the clients names have not been, with the exception of former Chief U.S. District Judge Edward Nottingham, who resigned his position.
Stewart will be sentenced in November. She faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
