Boca Raton Woman Nears Plea Deal in Prostitution Ring

Michelle Braun, 31, is reportedly nearing a plea deal for the federal charges of money laundering and transporting a person across state lines for the purposes of prostitution, Broward criminal lawyer William Moore has learned. Braun is accused of working as a “madam,” running a high-profit, high-profile escort service in California. Throughout, Braun apparently resided in south Florida. Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney Moore says that she has had hundreds of thousands of dollars seized by the government at this point in time, although federal prosecutors believed she earned millions during her tenure with her business Nici’s Girls.

Nici’s Girls was featured in prominent publications, including Rolling Stone magazine. Many of the escorts who worked for the business were models or women who worked in the porn industry. Broward criminal defense attorney Moore says it is not surprising that her client list, which the government found by seizing two cell phones and Braun’s laptop computer, includes Hollywood stars and famous athletes. Braun is originally from Bakersfield, California, but has apparently resided in Florida for several years.

Braun has faced several unrelated criminal charges in Florida in the past. In 2004, she was arrested for animal cruelty after locking a dog in her vehicle at the Boca Town Centre mall. The dog, which became ill due to the heat, eventually recovered. The following year, she was charged with failing to appear in court. In 2007, she was charged with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The drug charges were dropped last month.

As part of the plea deal Braun is expected to enter into later this month, she will be sentenced to five years of probation, with six months of house arrest. She will also be fined $30,000 and have to cooperated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. Currently, Braun shares custody of her two children, ages six and eight years old, with her former husband. The couple divorced in Broward County in 2006.

The charges against Braun have prompted media comparisons to Heidi Fleiss. Fleiss, sometimes known as the Hollywood Madam, served nearly two years in prison for tax evasion after law enforcement officials unraveled her prostitution ring. Fleiss has since become a successful businesswoman.

Broward criminal lawyer William Moore has experience in all kinds of criminal defense, including sex crimes and DUI. A conviction for a felony or misdemeanor can have consequences on your freedom, your employment, and your personal life. If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in the south Florida area, contact William Moore, P.A., which has offices in Fort Lauderdale-Dade, Broward, and Fort Lauderdale Counties.