Ex-cast member of reality show charged in theft
NEW YORK » A former cast member of the television reality series “Bad Girls Club” was arrested Wednesday on charges alleging she stole debit card information from a man who died shortly after a “prostitution date” with her.
Shannade Clermont, 24, was freed on $100,000 bail after she was charged with wire fraud, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. She was arrested at LaGuardia Airport after she arrived on a flight.
Prosecutors said the man she visited in January 2017 was found dead of a drug overdose the next morning in his midtown Manhattan apartment. A loose and broken condom was found on the victim’s bed, according to court papers.
Her lawyer, Donald Duboulay, declined comment after representing Clermont at a brief initial appearance in Manhattan federal court.
As Clermont waited for Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn to enter the courtroom, Clermont looked toward her twin sister, Shannon, who was seated among spectators on a courtroom bench, and quietly mouthed “sorry.” She then sobbed. The sisters both dabbed at tears.
Authorities said Clermont used stolen debit card information to try to obtain over $20,000. They said she used the money to pay her rent and phone bills, buy plane tickets and make online purchases of clothing and other merchandise.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in a release that Clermont “lived up to her reality series reputation.”
He credited investigators with the New York Police Department for the investigation, saying: “Clermont’s new reality is federal prosecution for her alleged nefarious conduct.”
In a criminal complaint, prosecutors included text messages between the victim’s phone and Clermont’s phone prior to what the government described as a “prostitution date.”
“What do you want to do?” the victim was quoted as saying.
“I want to see you for the amount we agreed on. So you tell me,” Clermont allegedly said.
“Let’s do $400,” the government said the victim said. It said he later added: “I’m a cool dude. You’ll have fun. What type of booze do you like? Wine!”
Investigators also said in court papers that she created an “Exotic Doll” email account on July 9, 2013, that they say Clermont “used to solicit dates for prostitution and other sexual encounters through various websites.”
The criminal complaint said she appeared on the Oxygen network’s reality series “Bad Girls Club” in 2015 along with her twin sister and amassed a large social media following. Her Twitter account listed over 100,000 followers.