VALLEY ROUNDUP : Van Nuys : Alleged Madam Faces Accusers in Court

Insulated by two lawyers and a bodyguard, alleged madam to the stars and aspiring singer Jody Diane “Babydol” Gibson walked into Municipal Court on Wednesday to face her accusers for the first time.

Wearing a perfectly coordinated salmon-and-black outfit, Gibson listened to an undercover police officer testify that she led the defendant to believe that she was a prostitute to get information about the suspected escort service.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Richard Walmark played tapes of telephone conversations, telephone messages and recorded meetings at a Ventura Boulevard restaurant between the undercover officer and Gibson.

Los Angeles Police Department Vice Det. Cynthia Neff said the defendant, alleged to be one of Hollywood’s leading madams and a former rival of Heidi Fleiss, cited pay rates, employee rules and discussed upcoming jobs.

After being put off by Neff twice, Gibson allegedly left a pointed message on her machine saying: “I can’t have girls calling me and wasting my time and meeting with me and then flaking and going off to other adventures or whatever life brings.”

Authorities allege that Gibson ran an international prostitution ring for nine years, employing as many as 34 prostitutes who charged up to $3,000 for their services in 16 states and Europe.

Among the items introduced as evidence Wednesday were printed rules, a calendar and an agenda, allegedly belonging to the defendant, in which Neff’s undercover name and phone number were written.

The hearing will continue today in Los Angeles County Municipal Court in Van Nuys with testimony from more officers. Defense lawyer Gerald Scotti has subpoenaed the alleged prostitutes who are listed as victims in the case.