An attorney alleges a woman sentenced for cheating investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars bought her way out of prison.
Michelle Braun and seven co-defendants were charged with selling more than $400,000 in bogus investments over the phone while in Fort Lauderdale. She gained notoriety for running a high-priced prostitution ring featuring Playboy playmates and alleged celebrity clients like Charlie Sheen and Tiger Woods.
"Michelle Braun was the leader of this case," said James Weick, an attorney for Brian Dunlevy, one of the co-defendants.
"I'm aware she has some prior criminal history," said Richard Della Fera, a defense attorney for one of the other co-defendants. "There was no jail time involved."
Despite prior felony pleas and a possible prison sentence of 30 years, Broward County Circuit Judge Matthew Destry sentenced Braun to four years of probation Friday after she agreed to pay $100,000 in restitution to her victims.
"She was able to produce restitution in the six-figure range and was able to get probation," said Weick.
Dunlevy was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Weick said his client didn't have any money to pay restitution.
"Everyone else in the case who was able to provide restitution was given straight probation," Weick added.
"You look at this and you say these people bought their way out of prison," said Local 10's Bob Norman.
"It certainly looks that way," replied Weick.
"Because a person cannot pay restitution, we want jail time," said Della Fera. "However, if they can pay restitution, they don't need jail time. I think that's where the system breaks down."