Well no body advertising here need worry about a raw deal by pleading guilty to "that which shall go unsaid"... so no worries there.
OK
I read a letter to a newspaper awhile back that quoted some statisics, not sure if I remember them correctly or if even real statistics...but it definately speaks alot about our justice system.
The man said that 80% or more of felony cases are plead out and that up to 90% of those plea bargins, the person is innocent but takes the deal rather than face additional charges. Most people cannot afford to fight in court or willing to use a public defender.
OVERCHARGED - Conviction Tossed - Admits prostitution but no felony!
Could be similar to current Phoenix Tempe overcharging of some and might be used to counter plea deal pressure?
Not yet in Phoenix media I've seem nor on national wire services - but his prior hometown local paper
Am getting out to Temple folks - big Status Conference Monday, new judge for trial, lots of pressure to pled to felony as in the DD case of almost 100. Only 1 of 39 in Temple case has pled to felony so far)
4/27/12 - No longer fearful of disbarred Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, Ferretti, 68, is finally talking about his ordeal
In the Desert Divas case he was pressured into pleading guilty in April 2009 to a felony attempted-pandering charge, but the conviction was vacated after his attorney successfully argued he was grossly overcharged. Ferretti admits he paid for sex and wrote reviews about escorts online, but denies running the prostitution business in any way. He believes he was the victim of prosecutor misconduct.
He had originally been charged with conspiracy to commit illegal control of an enterprise, illegal participation in an enterprise, money laundering and operating or maintaining a prostitution enterprise. He spent five days in an Arizona jail before posting $250,000 bail. He walked out of jail 15 pounds lighter after barely eating while locked up. Then his real ordeal began.
Before moving to Arizona, Ferretti co-founded Medstar Television, also known as Medstar Communications in Allentown, which produces programming for several cable stations, including the medical dramas "Forensic Files" and "Medical Detectives." He was Medstar's chief executive officer until 2006, leaving the company around the time he and his wife sold their Allentown home. He later moved to Arizona
Maricopa County authorities had accused him of being a "key player" in Arizona's largest prostitution ring. Ferretti admits he paid for sex and wrote reviews about escorts online, but denies running the prostitution business in any way. Now, nearly four years later, Ferretti is fighting to gain back his reputation. However he says he is not going to file a lawsuit against the former prosecutor. (Probably many lawsuits against Thomas pending and unlikely to collect even if won)
Despite the case being completely withdrawn, Ferretti has lost much — a board of directors seat in a company he invested in, his long-held lecturer position at Yale University and jobs as a business coach for entrepreneurs and corporate executives. He says even his accountant "dropped me like I was toxic when he read about my arrest."
"Until the disbarment of Andrew Thomas, I couldn't so much as write a letter to (hometown newspaper) because Maricopa County lawyers advised me to keep quiet or else Andrew Thomas (or one of his law enforcement allies) would retaliate against me,"
Authorities in August 2008 identified Ferretti as one of at least nine key players in a high-priced prostitution operation that brought in $250,000 a month. The operation, Night Partners Entertainment, ran a legitimate online escort service under various websites with names such as "Desert Divas" and "Hips Touring," police said. But for an additional $30 monthly fee, customers could gain access to another website that showed women performing sexual acts, filmed by members of the organization. Customers could then hire the women for sex, authorities said.
Ferretti said he pleaded guilty to the felony pandering charge to avoid additional charges he says he was threatened with. He was sentenced to a year of probation, but says after serving about eight months, a probation officer "took it upon himself" to file a motion with the court to have the charges dismissed.
Ferretti said the probation officer told him, "I got into this field to help people. I've read your entire case file. This case is all wrong and I can help you." In February 2010, Ferretti's attorney, Michael Kimerer, filed a motion to have Ferretti's guilty plea vacated and all charges dismissed. A judge agreed and dismissed the case that month. Kimerer said the "massive publicity" from Ferretti's case, which identified him as an operator of a prostitution business, "destroyed his career."
Kimerer said Ferretti was going through a divorce when he paid for sex, but has since remarried. Ferretti didn't want to talk about his family or where he's now living. He did say he's moved twice and is still out West. He hasn't been back to the Lehigh Valley since his arrest. "I've felt too humiliated to be seen there…" he said. "I've regrettably missed many important life events such as weddings and funerals." He says his reputation remains "in the gutter." "I have no idea of how to get it back," he said.
http://articles.mcall.com/2012-04-27/news/mc-ferretti-prostitution-plea-tossed-20120427_1_largest-prostitution-ring-william-p-ferretti-prostitution-case
Ferretti cleared in Arizona prostitution case after pled to felony!
OVERCHARGED - Conviction Tossed - Admits prostitution but no felony!
Could be similar to current Phoenix Tempe overcharging of some and might be used to counter plea deal pressure?
Not yet in Phoenix media I've seem nor on national wire services - but his prior hometown local paper
Am getting out to Temple folks - big Status Conference Monday, new judge for trial, lots of pressure to pled to felony as in the DD case of almost 100. Only 1 of 39 in Temple case has pled to felony so far)
4/27/12 - No longer fearful of disbarred Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, Ferretti, 68, is finally talking about his ordeal
In the Desert Divas case he was pressured into pleading guilty in April 2009 to a felony attempted-pandering charge, but the conviction was vacated after his attorney successfully argued he was grossly overcharged. Ferretti admits he paid for sex and wrote reviews about escorts online, but denies running the prostitution business in any way. He believes he was the victim of prosecutor misconduct.
He had originally been charged with conspiracy to commit illegal control of an enterprise, illegal participation in an enterprise, money laundering and operating or maintaining a prostitution enterprise. He spent five days in an Arizona jail before posting $250,000 bail. He walked out of jail 15 pounds lighter after barely eating while locked up. Then his real ordeal began.
Before moving to Arizona, Ferretti co-founded Medstar Television, also known as Medstar Communications in Allentown, which produces programming for several cable stations, including the medical dramas "Forensic Files" and "Medical Detectives." He was Medstar's chief executive officer until 2006, leaving the company around the time he and his wife sold their Allentown home. He later moved to Arizona
Maricopa County authorities had accused him of being a "key player" in Arizona's largest prostitution ring. Ferretti admits he paid for sex and wrote reviews about escorts online, but denies running the prostitution business in any way. Now, nearly four years later, Ferretti is fighting to gain back his reputation. However he says he is not going to file a lawsuit against the former prosecutor. (Probably many lawsuits against Thomas pending and unlikely to collect even if won)
Despite the case being completely withdrawn, Ferretti has lost much — a board of directors seat in a company he invested in, his long-held lecturer position at Yale University and jobs as a business coach for entrepreneurs and corporate executives. He says even his accountant "dropped me like I was toxic when he read about my arrest."
"Until the disbarment of Andrew Thomas, I couldn't so much as write a letter to (hometown newspaper) because Maricopa County lawyers advised me to keep quiet or else Andrew Thomas (or one of his law enforcement allies) would retaliate against me,"
Authorities in August 2008 identified Ferretti as one of at least nine key players in a high-priced prostitution operation that brought in $250,000 a month. The operation, Night Partners Entertainment, ran a legitimate online escort service under various websites with names such as "Desert Divas" and "Hips Touring," police said. But for an additional $30 monthly fee, customers could gain access to another website that showed women performing sexual acts, filmed by members of the organization. Customers could then hire the women for sex, authorities said.
Ferretti said he pleaded guilty to the felony pandering charge to avoid additional charges he says he was threatened with. He was sentenced to a year of probation, but says after serving about eight months, a probation officer "took it upon himself" to file a motion with the court to have the charges dismissed.
Ferretti said the probation officer told him, "I got into this field to help people. I've read your entire case file. This case is all wrong and I can help you." In February 2010, Ferretti's attorney, Michael Kimerer, filed a motion to have Ferretti's guilty plea vacated and all charges dismissed. A judge agreed and dismissed the case that month. Kimerer said the "massive publicity" from Ferretti's case, which identified him as an operator of a prostitution business, "destroyed his career."
Kimerer said Ferretti was going through a divorce when he paid for sex, but has since remarried. Ferretti didn't want to talk about his family or where he's now living. He did say he's moved twice and is still out West. He hasn't been back to the Lehigh Valley since his arrest. "I've felt too humiliated to be seen there…" he said. "I've regrettably missed many important life events such as weddings and funerals." He says his reputation remains "in the gutter." "I have no idea of how to get it back," he said.
http://articles.mcall.com/2012-04-27/news/mc-ferretti-prostitution-plea-tossed-20120427_1_largest-prostitution-ring-william-p-ferretti-prostitution-case
I read a letter to a newspaper awhile back that quoted some statisics, not sure if I remember them correctly or if even real statistics...but it definately speaks alot about our justice system.
The man said that 80% or more of felony cases are plead out and that up to 90% of those plea bargins, the person is innocent but takes the deal rather than face additional charges. Most people cannot afford to fight in court or willing to use a public defender.
OVERCHARGED - Conviction Tossed - Admits prostitution but no felony!
Could be similar to current Phoenix Tempe overcharging of some and might be used to counter plea deal pressure?
Not yet in Phoenix media I've seem nor on national wire services - but his prior hometown local paper
Am getting out to Temple folks - big Status Conference Monday, new judge for trial, lots of pressure to pled to felony as in the DD case of almost 100. Only 1 of 39 in Temple case has pled to felony so far)
4/27/12 - No longer fearful of disbarred Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, Ferretti, 68, is finally talking about his ordeal
In the Desert Divas case he was pressured into pleading guilty in April 2009 to a felony attempted-pandering charge, but the conviction was vacated after his attorney successfully argued he was grossly overcharged. Ferretti admits he paid for sex and wrote reviews about escorts online, but denies running the prostitution business in any way. He believes he was the victim of prosecutor misconduct.
He had originally been charged with conspiracy to commit illegal control of an enterprise, illegal participation in an enterprise, money laundering and operating or maintaining a prostitution enterprise. He spent five days in an Arizona jail before posting $250,000 bail. He walked out of jail 15 pounds lighter after barely eating while locked up. Then his real ordeal began.
Before moving to Arizona, Ferretti co-founded Medstar Television, also known as Medstar Communications in Allentown, which produces programming for several cable stations, including the medical dramas "Forensic Files" and "Medical Detectives." He was Medstar's chief executive officer until 2006, leaving the company around the time he and his wife sold their Allentown home. He later moved to Arizona
Maricopa County authorities had accused him of being a "key player" in Arizona's largest prostitution ring. Ferretti admits he paid for sex and wrote reviews about escorts online, but denies running the prostitution business in any way. Now, nearly four years later, Ferretti is fighting to gain back his reputation. However he says he is not going to file a lawsuit against the former prosecutor. (Probably many lawsuits against Thomas pending and unlikely to collect even if won)
Despite the case being completely withdrawn, Ferretti has lost much — a board of directors seat in a company he invested in, his long-held lecturer position at Yale University and jobs as a business coach for entrepreneurs and corporate executives. He says even his accountant "dropped me like I was toxic when he read about my arrest."
"Until the disbarment of Andrew Thomas, I couldn't so much as write a letter to (hometown newspaper) because Maricopa County lawyers advised me to keep quiet or else Andrew Thomas (or one of his law enforcement allies) would retaliate against me,"
Authorities in August 2008 identified Ferretti as one of at least nine key players in a high-priced prostitution operation that brought in $250,000 a month. The operation, Night Partners Entertainment, ran a legitimate online escort service under various websites with names such as "Desert Divas" and "Hips Touring," police said. But for an additional $30 monthly fee, customers could gain access to another website that showed women performing sexual acts, filmed by members of the organization. Customers could then hire the women for sex, authorities said.
Ferretti said he pleaded guilty to the felony pandering charge to avoid additional charges he says he was threatened with. He was sentenced to a year of probation, but says after serving about eight months, a probation officer "took it upon himself" to file a motion with the court to have the charges dismissed.
Ferretti said the probation officer told him, "I got into this field to help people. I've read your entire case file. This case is all wrong and I can help you." In February 2010, Ferretti's attorney, Michael Kimerer, filed a motion to have Ferretti's guilty plea vacated and all charges dismissed. A judge agreed and dismissed the case that month. Kimerer said the "massive publicity" from Ferretti's case, which identified him as an operator of a prostitution business, "destroyed his career."
Kimerer said Ferretti was going through a divorce when he paid for sex, but has since remarried. Ferretti didn't want to talk about his family or where he's now living. He did say he's moved twice and is still out West. He hasn't been back to the Lehigh Valley since his arrest. "I've felt too humiliated to be seen there…" he said. "I've regrettably missed many important life events such as weddings and funerals." He says his reputation remains "in the gutter." "I have no idea of how to get it back," he said.
http://articles.mcall.com/2012-04-27/news/mc-ferretti-prostitution-plea-tossed-20120427_1_largest-prostitution-ring-william-p-ferretti-prostitution-case
Well no body advertising here need worry about a raw deal by pleading guilty to "that which shall go unsaid"... so no worries there.
OK
I read a letter to a newspaper awhile back that quoted some statisics, not sure if I remember them correctly or if even real statistics...but it definately speaks alot about our justice system.
The man said that 80% or more of felony cases are plead out and that up to 90% of those plea bargins, the person is innocent but takes the deal rather than face additional charges. Most people cannot afford to fight in court or willing to use a public defender.
OVERCHARGED - Conviction Tossed - Admits prostitution but no felony!
Could be similar to current Phoenix Tempe overcharging of some and might be used to counter plea deal pressure?
Not yet in Phoenix media I've seem nor on national wire services - but his prior hometown local paper
Am getting out to Temple folks - big Status Conference Monday, new judge for trial, lots of pressure to pled to felony as in the DD case of almost 100. Only 1 of 39 in Temple case has pled to felony so far)
4/27/12 - No longer fearful of disbarred Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, Ferretti, 68, is finally talking about his ordeal
In the Desert Divas case he was pressured into pleading guilty in April 2009 to a felony attempted-pandering charge, but the conviction was vacated after his attorney successfully argued he was grossly overcharged. Ferretti admits he paid for sex and wrote reviews about escorts online, but denies running the prostitution business in any way. He believes he was the victim of prosecutor misconduct.
He had originally been charged with conspiracy to commit illegal control of an enterprise, illegal participation in an enterprise, money laundering and operating or maintaining a prostitution enterprise. He spent five days in an Arizona jail before posting $250,000 bail. He walked out of jail 15 pounds lighter after barely eating while locked up. Then his real ordeal began.
Before moving to Arizona, Ferretti co-founded Medstar Television, also known as Medstar Communications in Allentown, which produces programming for several cable stations, including the medical dramas "Forensic Files" and "Medical Detectives." He was Medstar's chief executive officer until 2006, leaving the company around the time he and his wife sold their Allentown home. He later moved to Arizona
Maricopa County authorities had accused him of being a "key player" in Arizona's largest prostitution ring. Ferretti admits he paid for sex and wrote reviews about escorts online, but denies running the prostitution business in any way. Now, nearly four years later, Ferretti is fighting to gain back his reputation. However he says he is not going to file a lawsuit against the former prosecutor. (Probably many lawsuits against Thomas pending and unlikely to collect even if won)
Despite the case being completely withdrawn, Ferretti has lost much — a board of directors seat in a company he invested in, his long-held lecturer position at Yale University and jobs as a business coach for entrepreneurs and corporate executives. He says even his accountant "dropped me like I was toxic when he read about my arrest."
"Until the disbarment of Andrew Thomas, I couldn't so much as write a letter to (hometown newspaper) because Maricopa County lawyers advised me to keep quiet or else Andrew Thomas (or one of his law enforcement allies) would retaliate against me,"
Authorities in August 2008 identified Ferretti as one of at least nine key players in a high-priced prostitution operation that brought in $250,000 a month. The operation, Night Partners Entertainment, ran a legitimate online escort service under various websites with names such as "Desert Divas" and "Hips Touring," police said. But for an additional $30 monthly fee, customers could gain access to another website that showed women performing sexual acts, filmed by members of the organization. Customers could then hire the women for sex, authorities said.
Ferretti said he pleaded guilty to the felony pandering charge to avoid additional charges he says he was threatened with. He was sentenced to a year of probation, but says after serving about eight months, a probation officer "took it upon himself" to file a motion with the court to have the charges dismissed.
Ferretti said the probation officer told him, "I got into this field to help people. I've read your entire case file. This case is all wrong and I can help you." In February 2010, Ferretti's attorney, Michael Kimerer, filed a motion to have Ferretti's guilty plea vacated and all charges dismissed. A judge agreed and dismissed the case that month. Kimerer said the "massive publicity" from Ferretti's case, which identified him as an operator of a prostitution business, "destroyed his career."
Kimerer said Ferretti was going through a divorce when he paid for sex, but has since remarried. Ferretti didn't want to talk about his family or where he's now living. He did say he's moved twice and is still out West. He hasn't been back to the Lehigh Valley since his arrest. "I've felt too humiliated to be seen there…" he said. "I've regrettably missed many important life events such as weddings and funerals." He says his reputation remains "in the gutter." "I have no idea of how to get it back," he said.
http://articles.mcall.com/2012-04-27/news/mc-ferretti-prostitution-plea-tossed-20120427_1_largest-prostitution-ring-william-p-ferretti-prostitution-case
Yes most plead and the prosecutor in DD and now same in Temple 39 scares everyone with long prison terms if don't take the felony plea.
Monday in Court even the judge (McMurdie) implied to a Tempe gal who was upset with her public attorney who would not return call and told her she could not change attorneys and go to the jury room next door and talk to lawyer she wanted to get replaced and decide since deal expired that day.
Long prison terms are threatened if go to trial since they layer on more and more charges and each are consider "priors" for sentencing guidelines.
At this point appears 37 of the 39 are going to trial - starts 8/24.
Well, when you don't have an escort lisence and havent paid a Nickle in taxes on years if escorting revenue which has all been spent what else do you do? I mean it's nice to think of the "higher ideals" - (there's actually nothing wrong and these laws are stupid) but reality is reality... You're breaking the (ok, stupid) law pure and simple... And possibly quite serious laws (tax)... So lets not pretend it's all "poor me"... We all know the rules, and 99% of society thinks your guilty as sin if you make 100k and pay zero taxes let alone some of the numbers some claim... And of course most also (in this dopey state) think you're guilty for getting paid for sex... Let us feel fortunate that somehow the ladies can publicize EXPLCITELY here that the provide sex for money and yet somehow LE is SO LAME that they haven't figured out how to prosecute them for it!
OK
Monday in Court even the judge (McMurdie) iHmplied to a Tempe gal who was upset with her public attorney who would not return call and told her she could not change attorneys and go to the jury room next door and talk to lawyer she wanted to get replaced and decide since deal expired that day.
Long prison terms are threatened if go to trial since they layer on more and more charges and each are consider "priors" for sentencing guidelines.
At this point appears 37 of the 39 are going to trial - starts 8/24.
-- Modified on 5/5/2012 4:29:07 PM
-- Modified on 5/5/2012 4:35:41 PM