The local Tampa Bay FOX affiliate, FOX13, is reporting that Deborah Jeane Palfrey, known in the media as the D.C. Madam who was last month convicted of money laundering, using the mail for illegal purposes and racketeering, has been found dead in Tarpon Springs, FL, of an apparent suicide.
Police were called to the scene of Palfrey’s mother’s home, and have confirmed that a body found there was Palfrey. She was 52.
Palfrey was set to be sentenced on July 24. After her conviction on April 15, Palfrey’s attorney, Preston Burton, told the Washington Post that his client was “holding up fine” and staying with her mother.
Palfrey ran her call girl firm, Pamela Martin & Associates, from her California home. It’s been estimated she employed at least 132 D.C.-area women over the years she ran the business. After she was charged by federal authorities, Palfrey released her phone lists to ABC News in the hopes of exposing high-level government officials who she claimed used her services. The most prominent names that arose from the list were deputy secretary of state Randall Tobias, who resigned, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), who apologized to his constituents but did not resign, and Harlan Ullman, a think tank military strategist.