(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-16 08:06

WASHINGTON -- A woman, who was charged with running a prostitute ring serving many high-ranked officials, was convicted by a federal court on Tuesday.

Deborah Jeane Palfrey (L) in this March, 2008 file photo after a US District Court appearance. Palfrey, known as D.C. Madam, was convicted by a federal court on Tuesday. [Agencies]

According to the verdict by the US District Court for the District of Columbia, Deborah Jeane Palfrey, known as D.C. Madam, was found guilty on all account: Money laundering, using the mail for illegal purposes and racketeering.

The 52-year-old procuress has been distancing her escort services company from any dirty deal, saying she was not aware even if any of her girls engaged in sex acts for money.

However, three clients of Pamela Martin and Associates, Palfrey 's defunct company to cover her prostitute services, told a different story of the so-called escort service during the trial on the weekend.

Prosecutors insisted that Palfrey's company was also open to provide sex services to its clients by allowing them to have 90 minutes with a woman at the price of US$250.

Palfrey attained a criminal justice degree in college but was ended up as a cocktail waitress in California. Later on, she became involved in the escort services and was arrested several times for the prostitution charge.

According to the court papers, Palfrey has earned about US$2 million from her own company in 13 years of operation before she was seized in October, 2006.

The news that she was netted dropped a bomb in the capital since many political and military elites were proved or suspected of patronizing her company.

David Vitter, a Republican Senator, has acknowledged being involved in Palfrey's escort service and made a public apology for his "very serious sin."

The inventor of the concept of "shock and awe" for the US attacks against Iraq in March, 2003, Harlan Ullman, was also called by Palfrey as a frequent client.

Palfrey is due to be sentenced on July 24.