>>
been following for months now. the so-called
soccer mom
madam accused of running a high-end
escort service
right here in new
york city
. in an exclusive jailhouse interview back in june, she told us she was innocent, but now she has changed her tune. nbc's katie tur has the story.
>> reporter:
a kiss billed as a sensational case by prosecutors, one that would take down new york's rich and powerful ended yesterday with a whimper. anna gristina
pleaded guilty
, but she isn't likely to spend another day
behind bars
.
>>
have no comment at this morning.
>> reporter:
walked out of court, a smile on her lips and her family by her side, a crush of media in her face.
>>
just a little more space for my family, please.
>> reporter:
anna gristina, the so-called
soccer mom
madam, won't be donning a prison jumpsuit any time suit.
>>
it's over for my family.
>> reporter:
after months of maintaining her innocence, in the end gristina succumbed to one word, pleading to one charge, guilty on a single count of promoting prostitution. legal expert
john kelly
.
>>
very good idea to take the plea deal to a
victimless crime
, a crime that people won't think less of her.
>> reporter:
gristina was arrested back in february, the image of an ordinary suburban mom, but what she was accused of was anything but ordinary. prosecutors claim the 44-year-old was running a high class
prostitution ring
out of this modest
upper east side
apartment building. in a jailhouse interview gristina and her lawyers told matt she was just trying to start a
dating service
.
>>
i watched a show called "the
millionaire matchmaker
." a friend of mine suggested you'd be really good at it so i looked into opening up something called, you know, the same thing except instead of singles seeking it was married and seeking.
>>
married men looking for someone to have dinner with?
>>
very much like match.com.
>> reporter:
prosecutors say they investigated the push issan mom for five years. they claim she made millions selling sex to new york's rich and powerful, but in court tuesday they stated they couldn't find any evidence she dealt with
high level
complaints in politics, finance or
law enforcement
as they had once believed. ultimately gristina spent four months
behind bars
before finally coming up with a $250,000 bond. today spoke wi "today" spoke with her exclusively her first night home.
>>
i'm scared to go to sleep because i'm afraid i'll wake up and not be here.
>> reporter:
she will be able to stay in her home for now. gristina will be sentenced to six months
behind bars
, but since she's spent much of that time
behind bars
already, she won't likely spend another night
behind bars
. still, she did
plead guilty
which means she could be deported. matt, back to you.
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