DANBURY, Conn. (AP) – A Newtown woman pleaded guilty Friday to operating brothels masked as spas in Danbury, Bridgeport and Waterbury.

According to court documents, Patricia Gougelmann, 66, earned more than $1 million between January 1998 and March 2004 in the operation.

“The federal government wouldn’t be involved if it wasn’t a large operation,” said Tom Carson, spokesman for Connecticut’s U.S. Attorney. “There is a substantial amount of money involved and it is large by brothel standards.”

Gougelmann, who also goes by the name Patricia McNally, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to using an interstate facility to promote prostitution and money laundering. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine when she is sentenced Oct. 23.

Documents show Gougelmann owned and operated Matrixx Enterprises, known as Genesis, in Danbury; Anthemion Enterprises, known as Cleopatra’s Spa, in Waterbury; and Alpha Enterprises, known as Dolce Vita, in Bridgeport. All three were registered with the state as health spas.

The Danbury facility was in a brick building next to a restaurant. Landlord Tony Rasendes said the woman always paid rent early and he never had a problem with her, but ceased her month-to-month lease in December when the restaurant, El Milenio, wanted to expand.

The restaurant owner, Luis Bautista, said he would see four or five women open the business each day at 10 a.m. People told him the business was giving him a bad reputation, he said.

“People asked where the ladies are and how much they charge,” Bautista said. “I would say what are you talking about? This is a restaurant.”

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Information from: The News-Times, http://www.newstimes.com

AP-ES-07-23-05 1231EDT