March 06--UPPER EAST SIDE -- A "Millionaire Madam," who ran a high-end brothel on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, was busted Monday after a five-year investigation, according to court transcripts.
Anna Gristina, a 44-year-old mother of four from Monroe, New York, appeared before a judge who refused to lower a staggering $2 million bail Tuesday. Gristina is accused of running a prostitution ring out of an apartment on East 78th Street.
During an investigation that lasted half a decade, prosecutors said they collected 100 hours of audio and video surveillance that shows Gristina provided prostitutes -- some of them underage -- to wealthy, powerful men.
Her defense attorney, however, portrays her as a suburban housewife with a techie side to her and a goal to launch a more sophisticated version of match.com. Her case is very similar to the one depicted in racy newsstand ads around Manhattan, showing a scantily dressed Jennifer Love Hewitt in the role of a suburban housewife who banks on prostitution. However, the Manhattan District Attorney's office says that a 9 unit Upper East Side building on 78th was where a real life Client List was being played out.
Prosecutors said Tuesday that Gristina bragged during the Eliot Spitzer investigation that she had a network of law enforcement sources ready to tip her off if her business was being watched.
Gristina was arrested on Wednesday, February 22nd during a meeting with a Morgan Stanley banker. Prosecutors believe she may have been trying to get the banker to help her expand her business online.
In court transcripts, Assistant District Attorney Charles Linehan also mentioned a lawyer friend, saying quote: "He's basically locked money away for her should this ever happen so she will have money when she comes out of it."
Prosecutors on the other hand, portrayed her as a crafty Madam who catered only to clients of high wealth and influence. Savvy enough to allegedly have members of law enforcement tip her off if they were closing in. It is why they say Grastina split town five years ago -- during the Elliot Spitzer era -- for safer digs north of the border.
The defense says the mother of four went away for another reason, "One of her children was looking to enroll in Magill College. That to me is a very good reason to be in Montreal."
While many are wondering the potential names of those who may have frequented the multi-million dollar call girl operation, prosecutors told a judge this morning that the first-time offender from Scotland is a flight risk. They also added that some of her influential friends do not want this case to go forward and that a previously set $2 million dollar bond was warranted.
Her defense teams said that she has no plans to leave the country and offered up the option of strapping a monitoring bracelet to Gristina.
The judge agreed with the prosecution office and left the bond untouched.
She's due in court Tuesday.
If convicted of promoting prostitution, Gristina could spend seven years behind bars.
Copyright 2012 - WPIX-TV, New York
