WEST HOLLYWOOD—Nicholas Prugo, a leader in the notorious “Bling Ring” scandal that involved robbing over $3 million worth of merchandise and cash from celebrity homes, has been charged with stalking and soliciting the rape of famed West Hollywood esthetician, Dawn DaLuise.
Prugo, 24, and accomplice Edward Feinstein, 31, are allegedly responsible for posting Craigslist ads on January 22, 2014, recruiting men to carry out a “rape fantasy” at DaLuise’s residence. The Los Angeles Times reported that several men sent her “threatening” emails regarding the fliers and showed up at her home.
As part of an “ongoing scheme,” Jane Robinson, of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office says that Prugo and Feinstein proceeded to harass DaLuise and her two adult daughters between December 1, 2013 and April 1, 2014.
Prugo, who has previously spent a year behind bars after pleading guilty for his involvement in the burglary of several celebrity homes, including residences owned by Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, was arrested by LAPD on Tuesday, September 22. Arraignment, which was scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, will be continued to October 6, the DA’s Assistant Media Chief, Jane Robinson told Canyon News. Prugo remains in police custody with bail set at $485,000.
Co-defendant Feinstein turned himself into the LAPD on September 15, after a warrant for his arrest was issued. He was later released on $450,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on October 6.
Both men are charged with three felony counts of stalking and one count of solicitation to commit sexual assault, says the District Attorney’s office.
The victim, Dawn DaLuise, 56, allegedly held a close relationship with Prugo and Feinstein before the alliance became tenuous and fell apart in August 2013. DaLuise even provided Feinstein as a witness to the alleged harassment, which involved the Craigslist posting and slashing of her tires at her West Hollywood business, but when Detective Steve McCauley contacted Feinstein about her report, he led authorities to believe a twist in events.
DaLuise was arrested in March 2014 for allegedly soliciting a murder and ordering a hit on beauty competitor and business neighbor, Gabriel Suarez of Smooth Cheeks salon. The esthetician was booked after emails and texts surfaced of DaLuise plans to “to take Gabriel Suarez out.”
DaLuise was convinced that Suarez was involved in the ads posted about her on Craigslist, along with fliers plastered across West Hollywood, soliciting sex at her home, says authorities.
DaLuise was jailed for over ten months before a California jury acquitted her in January 2015. She insisted at her trial that the texts and emails sent to police by Feinstein were mainly venting and were taken out of context, authorities reported.
Feinstein was arrested in March 2014 on suspicion for stalking DaLuise, but was released.
If convicted of all charged, Feinstein faces up to seven years in county jail and Prugo faces up to 14 years in state prison because of previous charges.
DaLuise’s clients included several A-List celebrities such as Alicia Silverstone, Michelle Trachtenberg and Sarah Michelle Gellar.
