The suburban mother suspected of running an upscale Manhattan brothel was back in court today to plead for her freedom as her lawyer told the judge his client is broke.
Anna Gristina, 44, who was arrested last month on a single prostitution charge after a five-year investigation, was said to have raked in more than $10million in the 15 years she allegedly ran her high-end brothel, charging clients up to $2,000 an hour.
But in court today, her lawyer Peter Gleason told the judge that the 44-year-old - who wore the same black-and-white patterned suit she sported at her first court hearing last week - 'doesn't have two nickels to rub together'.
With her hands cuffed behind her back, she appeared with three attorneys, looking more like an ordinary suburban mom rather than the owner of a millionaire prostitution empire, as prosecutors allege.
Hearing: Anna Gristina was back in court this morning with her attorney Peter Gleason so a judge could decide whether or not she is entitled to court-paid defence
Shackled: Her attorney will also ask if he can out up his Tribeca loft as collateral so the mother-of-four can be released on bail
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan was trying to decide whether the 'soccer mom' should be released on bail and whether or not she is entitled to a court-paid defence.
He said: 'The allegation is that she made over $10 million, possibly $15 million dollars, and that she has money "squirreled away".'
He then asked Gleason why he should allow Scottish-born Gristina to pick and choose her lawyers after the attorney made it clear Gristina wanted to replace court-appointed lawyer Richard Siracusa.
'She doesn't have two nickels to rub together, your honor,' Gleason said, pointing out that prosecutors have produced no evidence of Gristina's so-called hidden riches.
The judge told Gleason his client would not be getting preferential treatment but would keep the tax-payer funded lawyer until someone presented him with evidence that she was not broke.
He also denied her additional request to interview other prospective lawyers within the program.
Gleason is offering up his $2.5million TriBeCa loft as collateral so that his client can be freed on bail.
Prosecutors say the 44-year-old, from Monroe, was heard during secret recordings in their five-year investigation that she'd made millions of dollars and they believe she has hidden money away.
Defense and civil rights lawyer Ronald Kuby was also in court today to argue that Gleason was exercising constitutional rights and acting within legal ethics in his remarks to the media.
Among other things, Gleason said Gristina was starting a legitimate dating service, denied the accusations and was particularly outraged by prosecutors' allegations that she arranged some trysts involving underage girls.
Racy: Anna Gristina poses seductively with her third husband Kelvin Gorr, a photo she posted online as she boasted to her friends back in Scotland that she was 'building an empire' in New York
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2113930/Pictured-Manhattan-Madam-Anna-Gristina-court.html#ixzz1ovCrL23S
