Accused East Side Madam Sent Back To Rikers; Attorney: Plea Deal Possible
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The accused multimillion dollar madam was back in her isolation cell at Rikers Island on Thursday night following a setback in court earlier in the day.
Anna Gristina was denied bail or a bail reduction for a third time, reports CBS 2's Dave Carlin.
1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reports
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In court she was without her usual jacket; instead, in black and white dress brought by husband Kelvin Gorr, who was seen leaving the courthouse. After State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan refused to lower the $2 million bond, her new attorney, Gary Greenwald, called the amount ridiculously high, and he did not rule out a plea deal.
"In every criminal case you ever have, from murder to spitting on the sidewalk, you always ask, 'What's the possibility of a plea?' Greenwald said. "It doesn't mean you're going to accept."
Prosecutors argued there should be plenty of well-placed and well-heeled supporters with money to get her out of jail.
On top of that, the unusual offer from attorney Peter Gleason still stands. He is no longer representing Gristina, but plans to put up his $2.5 million loft to raise the money.
"We are now going to seek to bail her out by use of a property bond, and we're going to try to do it by next week," Greenwald said.
WCBS 880's Irene Cornell On The Case
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Neighbors said that on the day of Gristina's arrest investigators were in the East 78th Street apartment gathering evidence.
"They weren't regular police officers. They were like feds," Upper East Side resident Philip Kohl said.
Reportedly among the confiscated items were toothbrushes and hairbrushes with DNA to identify potential clients.
"Why do you need DNA? Is it that much of a witch hunt?" Kohl said.
So far Gristina has refused to give investigators any information about potential clients.
She is due back in court April 26.
What do you make of what Gleason is attempting to do for his client? Let us know in the comments section below...
