Federal judge protects tycoon's identity in $280,000 sex-for-hire extortion case

February 23, 10:00 AMBoston Progressive ExaminerMichael Richardson

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Boston Progressive Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Prostitute by Hermann Vogel             Wiki Commons photo

U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf has scrapped federal sentencing guidelines to protect the identity of a mysterious Boston business tycoon caught in a sex-for-hire extortion squeeze. The wealthy 'John' known in court documents as 'BP' for 'Business Person' had been purchasing sexual favors from a 27 year-old prostitute, Michelle Robinson, when she figured out he could afford a lot more than he was paying her.

BP shelled out $280,000 in hush money to Robinson but balked when she wanted $300,000 more. BP hired an expensive lawyer who enlisted the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney's office. Robinson was busted when she tried to pick up the final pay-off.

Held in jail since last August, Robinson faced another three years in prison for her shakedown attempt. BP, however, just wants the whole thing to go away before he is identified. The rich businessman is married and it is not known if his wife is privy to his rendezvous with Robinson.

Wolf has agreed with a deal that lets Robinson out of jail next week in exchange for her silence. BP, good sport that he is, has informed the court by way of his high-priced mouthpiece that he is willing to let any restitution of the $280,000 go into a crime victim fund.

Robinson told the judge she was sorry and didn't want to talk about the case to anyone. Wolf, in an effort to protect BP's identity, required that he be provided a list of everyone who already knows who BP really is in the event a disclosure occurs.

The escort-turned-prostitute-turned-extortionist lost custody of her daughter while in custody and according to Wolf had suffered physical abuse as a child and spent time in foster homes.

Robinson's mother was in court and talked with the Boston Globe after the sentencing. Linda Garcia had some choice words about BP and complained that his participation in prostitution activity by offering money for sex initiated the whole sorry mess. Garcia pointed out that BP started everything by seeking her daughter out and deserved punishment too.

Wolf justified the unusual sentence. "While that business person created his own vulnerability, he nevertheless is a victim." Wolf said BP is entitled to his privacy.

The appearance of an 'old boys' network in the court system where a double-standard stares feminists in the face is sure to keep interest in the tycoon's identity alive. As water-cooler speculation continues in Boston, the unknown BP may still end up with reporters at his front door despite Wolf's attempt to silence Robinson with a lenient sentence.