A Navy officer who taught a leadership and ethics course at the Naval Academy faces dismissal after she testified Thursday that she moonlighted as an escort for the so-called D.C. Madam.
Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca C. Dickinson, 38, admitted in federal court Thursday that she performed sex acts with men in exchange for money as a call girl for Deborah Jean Palfrey from October 2005 until April 2006.
At the time, Dickinson was a food service manager at the academy’s Annapolis campus, Navy officials said. She also taught one class, Naval Leadership, for one semester.
Dickinson, who was placed on leave Tuesday, used the alias “Renee.” She testified that she charged $275 a visit and gave half of it to Palfrey.
“It was getting harder for me to do it,” Dickinson testified. “I didn’t like it.”
Dickinson, who was transferred from the Naval Academy to the Naval Supply Corps School in May, was placed on leave after she gave a statement, said Navy spokesman Capt. Jack Hanzlik.
Federal officials informed the Navy in May 2007 that Dickinson had been implicated in its investigation into the high-profile prostitution and racketeering case, Hanzlik said. But the Navy didn’t know the specifics of her involvement and deferred to the Department of Justice to investigate the case.
On Tuesday, Dickinson gave an official statement to the Navy explaining her connection to Palfrey and was immediately reprimanded, Hanzlik said.
“She’s out of uniform, placed on leave and facing pending further administrative action,” Hanzlik said. That could include dismissal from the Navy and a loss of her retirement benefits, he said. “We expect the men and women who serve in our nation’s Navy to adhere to a standard of conduct thatreflects our core value.”
Dickinson, who has 19 years in the Navy, was eligible for retirement in six months.
She has been granted immunity from federal criminal prosecution for her testimony in this trail, which extends to the Uniform Code of Military Justice court-martial process.
Palfrey is charged with multiple counts of racketeering and money laundering and faces as many as 55 years in prison. U.S. District Judge James Robertson told the jury that the prosecution will complete its case by Monday.
The case also already damaged the careers of high-profile clients. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., admitted that he had sinned after his phone number appeared in the phone records of the alleged D.C. Madam. Former Deputy Secretary of State Randall Tobias stepped down last summer after he admitted to using Palfrey’s business.
Both men are listed as witnesses for the defense.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
