Alleged Upper East Side Madam Calls Case Against Her A Conspiracy
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The alleged Upper East Side Madam maintained her innocence during an interview on the Dr. Phil television show on Wednesday.
Anna Gristina has been free on bail since June after finally reaching a deal over her bail package. She had spent nearly four months behind bars on Rikers Island.
Gristina told the TV talk show host that she thinks the case against her is just a conspiracy by the prosecutors to get her to divulge information about somebody else.
Gristina did not mention who prosecutors wanted information about, but Gristina told Dr. Phil she thinks it is politically motivated.
"Because I would not cooperate during interrogation and was denied an attorney, I believe they wanted to send me to Rikers and wanted to give me time to think about cooperating," Gristina said.
The former soccer mom also called the state's five-year investigation into her matchmaking service baseless.
"I'm not going to make the state's case for them against someone else who has a family...my family taught me stand by your principles and I truly believe the truth is going to come out in the end," Gristina said.
In February, prosecutors charged Gristina with a single count of promoting prostitution after getting a tip alleging she was running a high-priced prostitution ring that racked up millions of dollars in profits out of an apartment on East 78th Street.
Gristina has said she was running a legitimate dating service, and denied that she has money stashed away.
"They picked me up, I had $20 in my wallet," Gristina told Dr. Phil.
Gristina said the alleged call girls who have taken plea deals to testify against her were her friends.
Dr. Phil traveled to upstate New York to Gristina's home for the interview. Her attorneys were present the entire time.
Gristina's trial date has been set for Oct. 15.
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