This is an interesting case and as it turns out, Lupovitz is the only one going on trial in this 2006 case as his co-defendants fled the US. Apparently Elite Entertainment operated in four states: California, Nevada, Oregon, and Arizona, though the case was charged by the State of California and not the feds.
Altogether Lupovitz faces 180 felony counts, but this trial is only on the pimping and pandering and conspiracy counts. The other charges are on hold pending the outcome of this case.
The defendants (all of them) may indeed be not guilty as charged. One escort or entertainer has testified that 90% of the time she was a companion and offered no sexual services as prosecutors claim. The only catch to this is that credit cards were charged large sums of money referred to as tips, so prosecutors could actually subpoena all of the clients if they had to. But if the independent contractors acted completely on their own, there is no case.
According to an article written by for mydesert.com, one escort that testified a week ago today, described what is clearly independent contractor behavior. Lupovitz's wife, a co-defendant's wife, and an escort have already pled guilty in the case, but the remaining three co-defendants are fugitives. The escort testified that she took money for prostitution, but this really has nothing at all to do with the business.
There is plenty of news out there about the arrests back in 2006, but little on the trial currently going on. I will assume that there will be more news as soon as the jury returns verdicts in the case and will post here accordingly. Be excited - this guy may actually be found not guilty - but no matter how it all concludes, at least he had the guts to take them to trial!
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