Fleiss, Father Plead Not Guilty to Federal Charges

Heidi Fleiss, the accused Hollywood madam, and her father, a 60-year-old Los Feliz pediatrician, pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges of tax evasion and money laundering.

Their U.S. District Court arraignment came just weeks before Fleiss, 28, is scheduled to go on trial in state court on charges that she operated one of the West Coast’s most exclusive call-girl rings.

Authorities allege that Dr. Paul Fleiss helped his daughter hide the illegal profits from her prostitution business, that they lied on their income tax returns about the source and size of her income, and that they lied on bank documents linked to the purchase of her $1.6-million Benedict Canyon home.

But Heidi Fleiss, in earlier interviews, has staunchly denied any conspiracy and, in particular, any wrongdoing by her father, who for decades has operated a highly respected pediatrics practice. Philip Heller, lawyer for Paul Fleiss, also took issue with the charges.

“This is a 60-year-old pediatrician who has spent most of his life caring for children and helping others. He has taught on the medical faculties at USC and UCLA, and is universally regarded and respected by his peers, colleagues and patients for his character and integrity,” Heller said.

“He is a very gentle man, a father of six who raised his children as vegetarians. One of his children is in medical school now, trying to follow in his father’s footsteps.

“Why would someone of this man’s stature participate in a criminal conspiracy, when he had nothing to gain and everything to lose?”

Heidi Fleiss’ attorney, Donald B. Marks, predicted that she would be exonerated.

“Heidi is very much eager to fight the charges,” Marks said. “She’s very upset and feels it was unnecessary to (charge her father as well).”

The father and daughter were indicted last week by a federal grand jury on charges that they conspired to hide hundreds of thousands of dollars she made procuring prostitutes for rich, famous men. The indictment alleges that she signed over to her father thousands of dollars in personal checks from people for whom she provided prostitutes, and that the father deposited those checks in his bank accounts.

The indictment does not name the men who allegedly wrote the checks, or say what led the grand jury to believe that the checks were from prostitutes. Heidi Fleiss’ attorneys have predicted that if the federal case goes to trial, the identities of some of her clients will become public.