Washington Madam' pleads guilty in Spitzer prostitution probe

New York, May 15 : Ashley Dupre's madam Temeka Lewis has pleaded guilty to promoting a prostitution and money laundering racket that nailed former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer.

The deal requires Lewis to come clean about the hooker ring and its high-profile clients. That's a clear sign the feds still have the ex-governor - and other high rollers - in their sights, possibly for money laundering, reports the New York Daily News.

In return, the prosecutors will ask that Lewis receive leniency at her August sentencing.

"We stand ready to receive direction from the government," defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo, said.

Spitzer's unmasking as "Client No. 9" led to his shameful resignation on March 12. He was not charged with a crime, but he became a laughingstock after a tipster revealed he kept his socks on while being serviced.

Lewis, 32, of Brooklyn, was secretly recorded talking with Spitzer about a February 13 date with a prostitute named Kristen at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, court papers show.

Her testimony could be critical to the government's efforts to slap Spitzer with a money laundering charge because she's the only member of the Emperors Club VIP ring who spoke directly to the disgraced Democrat.

During the recorded call, Lewis negotiated the 4,300-dollar fee with Spitzer and took care to make sure he wrote QAT on the payment envelope.

The feds say QAT Consulting or QAT International was the phony account the club used to launder johns' cash.

After the date with Spitzer, Lewis debriefed her prized hooker, whose real name is Ashley Dupre. She said she heard Client 9 could be difficult, according to the wiretapped conversation.

"I don't think he's difficult," Dupre told Lewis. "I mean it's kind of like, whatever. I'm here for a purpose. I am not a moron, you know what I mean."

Lewis also kept close tabs on the other prostitutes, and took note of their assets.

A hooker named Raquel was "probably a little bustier on top," she confided to an undercover cop posing as a john considering his choices.

In January, Lewis calmed a nervous customer sitting in a Los Angeles hotel room who was worried about getting "busted" if he got caught sending money to a phony account.

Lewis is one of four people implicated in the federal probe of the call-girl ring. She faces up to 25 years in prison when sentenced on August 10, but she's likely to get 16 months if she adheres to the agreement with the feds.

Lewis isn't the only person prepared to blab.

Accused ringleader Mark Brener, 62, of Cliffside Park, New Jersey, is "still in discussions" with prosecutors over a plea deal, defense lawyer Murray Richman said. Sources said the deal could be done next week.

The other defendants are Brener's girlfriend, Cecil Suwal, 23, and Tanya Hollander, 36, of upstate Rhinebeck.

The feds said the ring made over a million dollars off well-heeled clients like Spitzer, who were charged from 1,000 dollars an hour for a "three-diamond" prostitute to 5,500 dollars an hour for the top-rated hookers.

Meanwhile, Spitzer aides have been closing out his campaign account by sending out refunds to donors who requested them.

ANI