Left: Christopher Jelavic. Right: Margareta Von Lambert (Broward County Sheriff’s Office). Screengrab: The mother and son duo allegedly ran “Pretty Woman Escorts” in South Florida.
A mother and son worked together to run a South Florida escort enterprise for more than two decades while laundering the prostitution money under the guise of a legitimate real estate business, authorities say.
Margareta Von Lambert, 70, and her son Christopher Jelavic, 48, are charged with money laundering over $100,000 in 12 months and deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution. Broward County Sheriff’s detectives laid out their monthslong investigation into Pretty Woman Escorts in a more than 100-page probable cause arrest affidavit.
The investigation included undercover cops, confidential informants, GPS trackers, hidden cameras and clandestine surveillance operations, one of which entailed a detective witnessing a prostitute and client having sex through an uncovered window, the affidavit said. Detectives noted the escort service had been on law enforcement radar for years, but they have been unable to develop probable cause to make an arrest until now.
It’s not like the business operated in the shadows. Jelavic and Von Lambert registered the business with the State of Florida’s Sunbiz as “Pretty Woman Escorts Inc.” in 2000, cops said. The business operated from a nondescript office building at 3311 North Dixie Highway in Pompano Beach. It had regular employees, including a front desk person and drivers who would allegedly transport the escorts from the office to meet clients at homes, apartments or hotels and back after the $400 per hour sessions were complete. Cops also reportedly found detailed ledgers that memorialized the transactions of clients that were discarded in the trash.
Its website was still operational as of Tuesday afternoon and had pictures with accompanying profiles of potential escorts. However, the telephone numbers are disconnected. The site also has a “work for us tab” which says:
Pretty Woman Escorts is the most sought after agency in South Florida. We are established, in business for over 20 years with a huge regular clientele. Our ladies get quality bookings because we have one of the most lucrative VIP Client lists in South Florida. Are you an attractive, friendly outgoing woman? Would you like to make thousands a week or even in one day?
Detectives began investigating in January after seeing an online advertisement promoting the business. They surveilled the company office and followed Von Lambert and Jelavic from their homes to appointments at banks and other activities, the affidavit said. Undercover cops also followed prostitutes to their rendezvous with Johns.
In one such instance, on Feb. 13, cops followed the escort and her driver to an apartment in Pompano Beach. The apartment in question faces a golf course, and its occupant never bothered to close his blinds, according to the affidavit. Watching from the golf course, the detective saw the woman go to the bedroom and begin to undress.
“After she took her clothing off, the male subject turned off the lights and their silhouette could be seen partially in and out of the large, uncovered window,” the affidavit said. “After several minutes the female was observed having sexual intercourse with the male.”
The cop took photos and videos of the ordeal, which was “saved for evidentiary purposes,” the affidavit said.
Undercover officers also posed as Johns and contacted the business expressing interest. “Hello, michiko here with tonight’s fabulous talent. Let me know if you want pics!” one of the business’ employees allegedly texted the cop. The employee required the “John” to send her a photo of a piece of mail showing his address or a picture of his hotel reservation.
Cops also used confidential informants who applied for a driver job, which included an interview, during which Jelavic allegedly said, “so you know what we do here,” when he asked the potential employee about how he heard about the job. The driver got $25 per trip, cops say.
Investigators recovered extensive bank records that showed how the operation worked. Jelavic would allegedly set up shell companies and launder money via real estate transactions from his mother, a licensed realtor. They also would send each other, as well as other employees, Zelle transactions with vague references for the reason for the transaction.
From June 1, 2023, to June 1 of this year, Jelavic’s financial institutions received over $170,000 in Zelle, credit card transactions and cash deposits that were derived from prostitution, cops say. Von Lambert allegedly received over $80,000 over the same period via the same methods.
Cops say Von Lambert and Jelavic bought airplane tickets to Brazil and tried to flee the country but were arrested before they left. Both remain at the Broward County Jail. Jelavic has a $1 million bond, while Von Lambert has a $200,000 bond. Their next court date is scheduled for Wednesday.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
