Widow Allegedly Defrauded of $6 Million in Escort Contract Scheme

Marianne Flippo, a newly widowed woman managing her finances for the first time and living with a rare genetic disorder, is suing Gregg Starr, an escort employed by Cowboys 4 Angels, and the agency itself for allegedly defrauding her of approximately $6 million. According to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court this week, Flippo initially paid Starr around $635,000 for eight months of exclusive companionship. The situation escalated when Starr and his agency allegedly informed Flippo that the only way to make their arrangement permanent was to pay $10 million to buy him out of his contract with Cowboys 4 Angels. Flippo stated in a sworn affirmation filed with the court, “I now recognize that I was the victim of a horrendous scheme by Starr who is a sociopath who lacks any conscience.”

Court documents detail how Starr allegedly built Flippo's trust before initiating the fraudulent scheme. A pivotal moment occurred during a February 2026 trip to visit Starr’s mother, who suffered from dementia. During this trip, two employees from the agency reportedly arrived unannounced and pressured Flippo to drink alcohol during lunch, despite her being on medication for a recent surgery and her known vulnerability to drugs and alcohol due to her medical condition. After consuming approximately five drinks, the agency employees presented an “Exit Agreement” that stipulated Flippo must pay $10 million to terminate Starr’s association with Cowboys 4 Angels. Flippo recounted in her affirmation, “While I was drunk and confused (all of which was exacerbated by my medications and medical condition), Starr and Collins began to press me to sign the Exit Agreement.” She claims she was taken to a hotel room and had never seen the document prior to that day. The Exit Agreement itself reportedly states that “under no circumstances has physical companionship been purchased for consideration.”

Flippo attempted to transfer the $10 million on two separate occasions, but both transactions were flagged as suspected fraud by financial institutions. JPMorgan Chase initially blocked the first wire transfer, and Westpac subsequently flagged the second attempt. Following these rejections, Starr allegedly directed Flippo to open a joint account at Charles Schwab. Flippo claims this arrangement allowed Starr to access funds without triggering further fraud reviews by banks. She then transferred $5.95 million into this joint account. The lawsuit alleges that Starr then proceeded to drain the funds from this account. The lawsuit further details that Flippo's vulnerability was heightened by her recent widowhood and her rare genetic disorder, which she states made her more susceptible to manipulation and the effects of medication and alcohol. The alleged scheme highlights the exploitation of a vulnerable individual through a sophisticated financial fraud. The legal action seeks to recover the substantial sums of money allegedly lost by Flippo.