Detroit- from www.freep.com – Bad weather or not, Gregory Carr, co-owner of the now-busted Miami Companions escort service, flew into Detroit today to plead guilty to his role in what the government had dubbed one of the largest prostitution rings in the country.
Carr’s lawyer, Tampa attorney Paul DeCailly, is in town as well, having flown in on Tuesday to avoid running into the snowstorm, and possibly missing the crucial court date.
Carr is scheduled to enter his guilty plea at 3 p.m. Thursday before U.S. District Court Judge Arthur Tarnow.
“We’re just happy the weather didn’t stop this from going forward,” DeCailly said.
“I think both sides want to get this plea before the court, and get this portion over with.”
The federal courthouse is closed today due to the weather. No telling what may happen tomorrow.
Carr recently cut a deal with the federal government, although the details of that agreement are confidential.
Carr was among four people indicted in Detroit last year on charges they ran what authorities said was once one of the largest prostitution services in the country, metro Detroit being among its busiest ports. Carr was the alleged mastermind of the operation, which included call centers in Panama and Costa Rica, and ran the sex ring with his now ex-wife Laurie Carr,
Laurie Carr pleaded guilty in October to her role in the operation and has been cooperating with authorities. She was expected to be a key witness against Greg Carr, who faced trial on March 22 but cut a deal with the government in recent weeks. Laurie Carr is facing up to 12 months in prison.
The government also has secured guilty pleas from Michelle Matarazzo, an office manager who handled travel plans for the call girls, and Nayubet Swaso, a former porn star and call girl known as Sierra Sanchez, in the escort industry. Swaso, court records show, was operations manager at call centers in Panama and Costa Rica, who eventually became an escort herself after seeing how lucrative the business was, with some escorts making up to $500 an hour.