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May 1, 2008 at 4:04 pm | Max Heddelson | News

Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the woman who faced a 55-year prison sentence for money laundering and racketeering, was found dead on her mother's Florida property Thursday.

A police statement released that afternoon indicated Palfrey had hung herself in a storage shed on her mother's premises. The mother found the body and notified authorities.

Known as the "D.C. Madam" because of the numerous politicians who frequented her escort service, Palfrey told ABC News last year that she would never return to prison. Palfrey had previously served for prostitution-related charges in the 1990s.

"I sure as heck am not going to be going to federal prison for one day, let alone, you know, four to eight years," she said.

She told a CNN reporter the government went after her.

"They found out that I'm not who they thought I was, and instead of dropping the whole matter they decided to press forward and, what the heck, she's a woman, she's weak, we'll intimidate her, we'll humiliate her, we'll pounce on this poor lady and she'll give in."

An earlier police statement indicated handwritten notes were found describing the victim's desire to end her own life, and foul play does not appear to be a factor in her death.