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Cops had 'mole' in escort service

Kevin Flynn and Sara Burnett

Published February 8, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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Authorities spent more than a year investigating a high-priced Denver escort business, even sending a female informant known as "Charlie" to pose as one of the prostitutes, according to affidavits unsealed Thursday.

The business, known as Denver Players and Denver Sugar, operated most recently out of a four-bedroom house at 1675 Fillmore St., according to the affidavit.

One of the employees told police she made between $200,000 and $300,000 in 2005 and 2006, performing "hundreds, if not thousands, of acts of prostitution."

Some of the women claimed their clientele includes politicians, pro athletes, judges, lawyers and doctors, 9News reported. The company kept a list of its clients, but the names were not included in the affidavit.

Authorities searched the Fillmore Street house on Jan. 25. They also searched the home of the suspected owner, Brenda Stewart, in the 1300 block of Monaco Parkway.

According to the affidavit, Stewart, 32, told "Charlie" during a job interview that she worked as an escort for about 10 years before starting her own business.

Stewart, who has not been charged with a crime, declined to comment, referring questions to her attorney.

Joseph Saint-Veltri, whom Stewart named as her lawyer, refused to comment or even confirm he is representing Stewart.

One of the employees told police that at least 25 women worked for Denver Players. The women kept two-thirds of the money they charged for their services. The other third went to Stewart, employees said.

At least two times during the investigation, an undercover officer asked for an appointment with "Charlie." The officer went to the home, where he paid her for simulated sex, the affidavit states.

flynnk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5247

Comments

  • February 8, 2008

    9:08 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Diff writes:

    With that kind of money involved,
    I just wonder how long till the politicians start looking at it as another source of tax and fee revenue!
    We could make in legal like Nevada (BTW< they have no state income tax)
    at just 10 or 15% that could add up! plus permits and licensee fees
    Hell maybe with some government tax breaks, incentives and SBA loans, I'd start my own business. Maybe could get a good deal on one of the empty foreclosed homes in the area from HUD.
    Guess I need to learn a little more about the biz tho --questions,
    What is Simulated sex? How much of discount to you give for that? Is that the "entry level" service? (opps maybe NOT!)

  • February 8, 2008

    9:42 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Darwin writes:

    Name the "johns". Oops, that would "expose" too much. Forget the "mole", I bet the "rats" are really scurrying about to ensure their names don't become public (as they should).

  • February 8, 2008

    9:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Chal writes:

    Yeah, the cops can spend a year trying to shut down an escort service, but they don't have enough time or manpower to track down the scum employers who hire illegals. Guess hanging out with the hookers is more fun.

  • February 8, 2008

    10:01 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Kslayer writes:

    You can bet that we will never see all the "Johns" on that list. Your right Darwin. The rats a are scurrying as we speak. The more money the rat has, the less chance he will end up on the public list.

  • February 8, 2008

    10:17 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    misterchinaski writes:

    if the cops had a mole, what sorts of animals were there already? this is just disgusting1!!1! bestiality? come on people, that's so gross!! i'm gonna go take a shower.

  • February 8, 2008

    11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kemguru writes:

    "Charlie" IS a prostitute!

    We, the taxpayers, paid her wages while she performed, simulated or otherwise.

    "At least two times during the investigation, an undercover officer asked for an appointment with "Charlie." The officer went to the home, where he paid her for simulated sex, the affidavit states."

    WOW! At least TWO TIMES! What did "Charlie" do the rest of the time? Moonlighting? Double-Dipping? Got paid under the table (sheets) while on official payroll?

    Did we pay Charlie and the investigator while they got caught-up in the moment? A little cop/prostitute role play…except for real?

    The ladies need to form individual LLC's, claiming they're consultants and pay their taxes. This would appease the IRS. The police need to find a better use of their time. Murder, rape, abuse, theft...

  • February 8, 2008

    11:38 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:

    What will the cop do for stress relief now that the sting is over?

  • February 8, 2008

    11:55 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    dano writes:

    She spent a year on her back and got paid for it. Did she keep her take? A good prostitute is way more economical than an affair. I'm all for Denver Players expanding operations to my home town. Doesn't the DPD have anything else to do? How many cops used this service? This is great!

  • February 8, 2008

    12:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    aeb1barfo writes:

    Either way the TAXPAYER gets SCREWED...

  • February 8, 2008

    12:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    TheVentilator writes:

    I thought "simulated sex" was taken care of in the shower.

  • February 8, 2008

    12:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Blaster writes:

    I'd like to direct the attention of the other posters that "Charlie" was described as an informant, not an undercover officer. Though she probably had a lot of restrictions placed on her behavior as part of the investigation, as an informant she doesn't operate under the same rules as a police officer. For the record, I don't work in law enforcement, and I think that legalized, well regulated prostitution is probably a good idea. As of right now, though, the fact that prostitution is illegal is the law of the land, and the police are supposed to enforce it.

  • February 8, 2008

    1:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AC writes:

    They're ALL pathetic... the cops, IRS, "escorts" and the clients. Rich or wishing-they-were-rich middle-aged guys paying $300 to a 19-year-old girl to pretend she's his girlfriend and shake hands with Abe Lincoln? Go home to your wives.

  • February 8, 2008

    1:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    fishtanksamurai writes:

    Now we're safe from all the scary hookers. Meanwhile the state is unprepared for a terrorist attack, illegals are everywhere, children are starving, homeless are freezing, bridges are collapsing, the roads go unplowed, and the highway has caved in...but we're safe from the hookers.

  • February 8, 2008

    1:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    kemguru writes:

    Blaster,

    We paid “Charlie”, no matter what her official title was. If she has more room to work as an informant…well…we paid for that too.

    You’re on target about enforcing the law, though. As long as it’s illegal, people should refrain and the law should be enforced.

    So…

    It’s illegal to loan your neighbor a vacuum cleaner.
    It’s illegal to drive a black car on Sundays.
    It’s illegal to mistreat rats.
    It’s illegal for a man to kiss a woman while she is asleep.
    It’s illegal to let a dandelion grow within city limits.
    It’s illegal to own chickens…BUT, you can own up to three turkeys.

    Start complying or I’ll report your renegade butt!

  • February 8, 2008

    1:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    notknowitall writes:

    What gives? The law sets up stings and arrest and fine the johns all the time - but now the john's names will "not" be published?
    Once again it is proven that Denver's politics and priorities are all screwed up.

  • February 8, 2008

    2:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Ramm writes:

    uh was "Charlie" the one with the penis?

    Signed: One of your community leaders.

  • February 9, 2008

    10:08 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jd56461 writes:

    You know what is funny if you search for the Denver Player escort stories on the 9News website on the webads section on the right 3 escorts services ads come up. Maybe Channel 9 is accessory to a crime since escorts are advertising on their website.

    Hey it is ok they are just trying to bring in more advertising revenue.

    Check it out: http://search.9news.com/sp?aff=1100&a...

  • February 9, 2008

    2:51 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AC writes:

    Hey notknowitall, the reason the "johns" names aren't published is that this wasn't a prostitution sting. It's a tax fraud investigation. I think it's hilariously stupid that the woman on Channel 9 keeps harping on how they released the escorts' names but not the customers. Shows how shallow and stupid she is. It was a *search warrant affidavit* and they *don't have* the men's names on it because that's what the friggin' SEARCH WARRANT will find. How could they put the men's names down when they don't have the f'in evidence yet?!?

    Maybe with all the records they seized, maybe NOW they can get the men's names.

    But what the Channel 9 woman doesn't recognize is that the fed had to list the escorts' names because those are the people for whom they are seeking the PAYROLL records in order to pursue the TAX FRAUD investigation. She doesn't even grasp what her own story is about. Yeesh.