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High-end prostitutes were back on the stand Thursday in the trial of a woman known as the D.C. Madam, Deborah Palfrey.
Palfrey is facing racketeering charges connected to her operation of a high-end escort service. Palfrey says the business was a legitimate erotic fantasy service. Prosecutors say her employees provided sex for money from 1993 to 2006.
Another startling revelation took place on Thursday, as an officer from the Naval Academy in Annapolis took the stand to testify about the difficulties of being a call girl.
Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Dickinson testified about while she ran the Naval Academy food service in Annapolis, she moonlighted from October of 2005 to April of 2006 for Palfrey. For an hour and a half, Dickenson got $275; $130 for her and $145 for Palfrey.
Federal agents testified about what they found when they raided Palfrey's California base of operation. They said she employed more than 130 escorts over the years. They also found photos of dozens of would-be escorts Palfrey rejected. An IRS investigator testified that from 1993 to 2005, she brought in about $2 million.
The financial aspects are critical since Palfrey faces money laundering and racketeering charges. Prosecutors must prove to the jury that Palfrey is a high end pimp to win a conviction.
As for Lieutenant Commander Dickenson, the Navy placed her on leave Tuesday when it learned the nature of her testimony. An immunity deal protects her from court marshal, but she could face an administrative discharge. In the end, her actions could wind up costing her big time because she is just six months from retirement and will loose her retirement benefits if she is discharged before then.
In court on Wednesday, a 63-year-old doctor told the jury about her audition seven years ago for Palfrey's escort service. She said one of Palfrey's preferred clients asked her for oral sex and she got the job. She had 100 appointments in a year and a half at $250 per meeting.
The woman said she worked for Palfrey, then tried to buy the business, but the deal went sour. She said she would hang up on men when they asked for sex so business dropped dramatically. When asked why she hung up, she said, " I didn't want the girls to have to have sex with clients. I knew it was required of me. I didn't want to require it of them."
Among the shrouded former escort seen leaving the courthouse, one woman, who testified while dabbing away tears and speaking in a soft, sad voice, talked about her first appointment. She said, "I let the man take the lead. If I could get away without having sex I wasn't going to bring it up. But If it was asked of me I was going to do it because I was being paid for a certain service."
Palfrey's attorney hammered away at all the former escorts. Preston Burton asked one woman, "Did Palfrey ever tell you what to do?" She said, "no." He then asked, "You and the client decided what you were going to do?" She said, "Yes."
The trial is expected to last three or four weeks.
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