Defendant agreed he was a pimp, witness tells jury

PORTLAND – A Massachusetts pimp testifying for the government in the prostitution and money laundering trial of Kittery attorney Gary Reiner says the defendant once agreed that he, too, was a pimp.

Lance Williams, 46, testified Tuesday in U.S. District Court that Reiner made the concession during an argument over the amount of money that the Danish Health Club was taking from the women who worked there.

The women received no pay from the club, according to Williams, who said they were required to pay $100 per week, plus a $10 daily fee, along with occasional fines for violating rules.

“I said, ‘Do you consider yourself a pimp also?”‘ Williams recalled asking Reiner.

“He said, ‘Yeah.”‘

“I said, ‘Well, you are,'” Williams told the jury.

Prosecution testimony was expected to continue through Thursday. Reiner, who is accused of operating a brothel and conspiring to launder the millions of dollars in profits that it generated, faces up to 20 years and fines of up to $250,000 if convicted.

Williams, who said he sent women to the club prior to a federal raid last year, has pleaded guilty to transporting a minor for prostitution. He acknowledged that he hopes his testimony will win him a shorter prison term.

Four others charged in the case have pleaded guilty, Two of those co-defendants already testified, saying Reiner made the key business decisions for the club after its manager died in 2001.