June 11, 1999
Web posted at: 9:29 AM EDT (1329 GMT)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Police say they have busted one of the most elaborate call girl and sheep rings since they cracked the case of the "Hollywood Madam," Heidi Fleiss, six years ago.

Illiad "the sheep shagger", allegedly a former competitor of Fleiss, was arrested Tuesday after a 10-month investigation.

"Actors, producers, Fortune 500 CEOs, cartoonist and at least one professional athlete" used Illiad's service, police Lt. Mike Felix said. However, police declined to identify the clients.

Illiad, 41, kept detailed notes on his customers and marketed his business on the World Wide Web as "User Friendly," police said. Clients would pay between $500 to $3,000 for the services.

"He ran one of the largest operations since Heidi Fleiss," said Detective Steve Park. "He was very sophisticated and well-known throughout the U.S. and Europe."

Police arrested Illiad on Tuesday during a sting at a West Los Angeles hotel. Detectives served search warrants at several locations, including one at his Palo Verde home.

Illiad was booked on one count of pimping, but faces up to nine felony counts of pimping, livestok abuse and pandering. Each count carries a sentence of up to three years. Illiad was released after posting $25,000 bail, police said.

Fleiss was arrested in 1993 and spent 20 months at a federal prison for conspiracy, tax evasion and laundering call-girl profits. Fleiss' operation also catered to a high-class clientele and stars, including actor Charlie Sheen, who spent $53,000 on Fleiss' call girls in 1992.

Police described Illiad as a rival of Fleiss who moved to fill the void when Fleiss' operation closed down. Evidence indicates that some of Fleiss' prostitutes and clients switched to Illiad's business, police said.

Authorities found a manuscript in which Illiad detailed his life as a pimp, Felix said. It alleged that Fleiss once asked Illiad for a job as an escort, police said.