Accused madam's bond request denied

The accused madam of a multimillion-dollar Manhattan prostitution ring has lost a new bid to get out of jail.

A judge denied Anna Gristina's latest request Monday to get her $2 million bond lowered. He said another judge had acted rationally in setting the bond.

Gristina's lawyers say the bond is unjustly high and her family can't afford it. Prosecutors say the amount is warranted. They say they believe Gristina is a flight risk.

Gristina's lawyer, Gary Greenwald, says he plans to appeal.

The 44-year-old suburban mother has pleaded not guilty to a low-level felony charge of promoting prostitution.

Prosecutors say she ran a brothel for 15 years and claimed to have law-enforcement connections.

Her lawyers say she was starting a dating service.

-- AP