Gov. Spitzer-Linked Madame Also Provided Web Design Services

[Joanne98]

Gov. Spitzer-Linked Madame Also Provided Web Design Services
A defendant in the case also operates a business services firm called QAT Consulting Group that offers outsourced Web design and online marketing services.

By Paul McDougall
InformationWeek
March 11, 2008 11:11 AM


In an odd twist, one of the principals behind the international prostitution ring allegedly used by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer provided more than just call girls to clients.
Cecil Suwal, whom federal prosecutors have charged with violating anti-prostitution laws, also operates a New Jersey-based business services firm called QAT Consulting Group that offers outsourced Web design and online marketing services.

According to its Web site, QAT Consulting provides "online advertising and promotion services," including strategic planning, concept development, design and copyrighting and "results analysis." Unlike the Web site for Suwal's Emperor's Club escort service, QAT Consulting's site was still online as of Tuesday morning.

An Internet record shows that the site is registered in Suwal's name and was created in March of 2005. The record also lists Suwal's Cliffside Park, N.J., apartment as the business address for QAT Consulting.

In addition to the Internet services, QAT also offers a number of financial services, including one that helps foreign corporations establish a business presence in the U.S.

Prosecutors allege that QAT Consulting provided a front through which payments to the Emperors Club's $5,000 per hour hookers were funneled.

Emperors Club clients were told they should not be concerned about wiring money to the service "because the wire would be sent to 'QAT Consulting' so it would 'show up like as a business transaction'," prosecutors in a criminal complaint quote one of the Emperors Club defendants as saying.

They also allege that between 2004 and 2008, Suwal sent wire transfers drawn against QAT Consulting and totaling more than $400,000 to more than 50 prostitutes around the world.

In what's perhaps a Freudian slip, QAT Consulting on its Web site says it charges between $600 and $3,000 for Web design and marketing services, "depending on the complicity of the project."
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206902943

[Ezlivin]

1. They put the X into XHTML

And they are really into standards compliance.

You'll love it when they press your "Submit" button.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Most likely, a shell to make the transactions look legit.

Checks to "Call Girls R Us" might be a lot harder to explain to the SO's....

[theboss]

3. So, it's a money laundering front

I don't really see how this is some kind of revelation. Every good criminal has a legitimate business on the side where they can hide money.

[Liberal In Texas]

4. It's good to see full service companies still exist. n/t