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William Mersey
I was born in the New York City area to educated parents both of whom graduated from Columbia University. Predictably, I was run through the academic mill and by the age of 21, had graduated colleg...view moreI was born in the New York City area to educated parents both of whom graduated from Columbia University. Predictably, I was run through the academic mill and by the age of 21, had graduated college with honors, was awarded a government fellowship to enter a PhD program in Economics, and had dropped out to play the guitar for a living.
Music defined me for the next 15 years during which I played at least one gig in all but two states east of the Mississippi. Working as a backup musician for the likes of Stephanie Mills, the Main Ingredient, the Marvelettes, Crystals, Shirelles, Joey Dee, the Belmonts, and on and on had its moments — both good and bad.
By age 35, I grew weary of the music business and settled into driving a taxi, a hustle that led me to writing slice-of-life stories about the bizarre and surreal, subjects about which few people know more than a cabby who drives from 6 PM to 6 AM in New York City.
I was not only published in men's magazines — but became an op-ed freelancer for the NY Times, NY Daily News, and NY Newsday.
Having gained some notoriety writing in both of those venues, I was hired full-time by one of the publications for which I was freelancing. And that organization published sex magazines filled with "girls you can have." Before I knew it, I wasn't just writing erotic stories by the truckload, I was selling advertising to the boss's customers (the prostitutes who advertised in his magazines) as well!
After a few years of servicing the advertising needs of most of the escorts in New York City, I opened my own ad agency and managed to make millions of dollars — most of which I didn't pay income tax on!
Instead, I placed the money in triple tax-free money market funds, a huge mistake in retrospect.
The IRS was not sympathetic when a competitor ratted me out to keep himself from going to prison on a human trafficking charge.
As a result, I was effectively relieved of 2/3rds of my money and locked up in a federal prison for a year with PAUL MANAFORT as my celly, and in the exclusive company of JEFFREY EPSTEIN as part of my job watching suicidal inmates at the facility.
Out for 4 years now, I am currently living a quiet life in Greenwich Villge, New York.view less
Books by William Mersey
Doin' Time: My Year at MCC Federal Prison With Jeffrey Epstein and Paul Manafort