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Heidi Fleiss Is Arrested After Allegedly Failing Drug Test

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

Former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss was behind bars Saturday after she allegedly failed a drug test and was arrested on suspicion of violating the terms of her bail.

Fleiss was arrested at her Santa Monica lingerie shop Friday night after a routine drug test indicated that she had been using methamphetamine, said U.S. Deputy Marshal Chris Daniels, who arrested Fleiss. The drug test was required by federal court under the terms of Fleiss’ bail while she awaits sentencing for tax fraud and money laundering, Daniels said.

Fleiss was being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles pending a court hearing Monday or Tuesday to determine whether to revoke her bond.

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Fleiss, who runs a lingerie business selling “HeidiWear” on the Third Street Promenade, was convicted last year on federal charges involving a scheme to avoid paying taxes on hundreds of thousands of dollars of profits from her call girl ring.

Sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday. The charges carry a sentence of three to eight years in prison.

Fleiss was also convicted in 1994 of pandering in a case that unveiled one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive call girl operations.

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But a state appeals court overturned that conviction over allegations of juror misconduct. A retrial in state court is scheduled to begin Oct. 7.

An attorney for Fleiss said she has been under “tremendous pressure.”

“That is a compelling reason why she made this mistake if she made this mistake,” said Fleiss’ attorney, Donald Marks.

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