Marianne Flippo, a wealthy widow, has filed a lawsuit claiming that she was defrauded of $6 million by a male escort named Gregg Starr, who allegedly manipulated her through expressions of love. According to Flippo, Starr convinced her that she needed to pay off his $10 million contract with an escort agency to be together.
In a recent court filing, the 49-year-old Flippo expressed regret for not realizing the manipulation sooner, admitting, “I now realize I was foolish.” She met Starr, 38, through an agency called Cowboys 4 Angels, which is known for providing male companions to women and has been associated with the reality show “Gigolos.”
Flippo claims that the relationship turned manipulative when Starr and someone from the escort service pressured her into signing an agreement to help him escape his contract, all while she was under the influence of alcohol and medication during a trip. By the time her attorney uncovered the situation, she had already transferred nearly $6 million to him, and he was requesting an additional $4 million, according to court documents.
Her attorney, Larry Hutcher, called attention to the scheme, describing it as a “sinister fraud.” He has urged the court to intervene, citing that Starr is allegedly squandering the stolen funds.
In her legal complaint, Flippo outlines a troubling narrative that began after the loss of her long-time partner, Chad Flippo, who created a key software for the successful game “Roblox.” Chad took his life in August 2024, leaving Marianne devastated.
Months later, seeking companionship for a trip to Italy to obtain rare medication, she was directed to Cowboys 4 Angels, where she hired Starr for $27,000, under the impression that it was a simple companionship service.
After the trip, the two continued their relationship, and Starr moved into her New York apartment, convincing her to pay him over $450,000 for exclusivity. However, things took a dark turn during a trip to Atlanta when, under the influence of medication and alcohol provided by Starr and an associate, Flippo allegedly signed a $10 million agreement to buy him out of his contract.
A bank flagged her attempt to wire the money due to fraud concerns, which Flippo now sees as a glaring warning sign she ignored. Eventually, she opened a joint account with Starr, transferring nearly $6 million before realizing the extent of his deception.
The revelation led to intense confrontations between Flippo, her attorney, and Starr, where harsh words were exchanged. Starr allegedly threatened to hide the remaining funds if she didn’t comply with his demands.
According to Flippo, Starr has emptied most of the joint account into another account solely in his control and is now living extravagantly on her money. He defended himself, claiming that much of the money was spent on shared expenses and charitable donations, and he stated that there was still around $3 million left, though he wouldn’t provide specifics on the funds’ whereabouts.
Starr also denied the claims of coercion and insisted that the terms of the agreement were actually Flippo’s idea, depicting their relationship as tumultuous. Meanwhile, Cowboys 4 Angels, while not currently a defendant in the lawsuit, could still be implicated as the case unfolds.
Ultimately, Hutcher emphasized that this lawsuit is about more than just retrieving the lost money; it’s also about helping Marianne reclaim her dignity.
