( CNN ) -- Deborah Jeane Palfrey , known as the `` D.C. Madam , '' was found dead in Florida on Thursday , according to Tarpon Springs police . Deborah Jeane Palfrey was convicted of running a high-powered prostitution ring . Palfrey hanged herself in a storage shed on her mother 's property , where she had been staying , police said . Palfrey 's mother , 76-year-old Blanche Palfrey , found the body , police said . Palfrey was convicted April 15 in connection with a high-end prostitution ring catering to Washington 's elite . She had said in interviews that she would kill herself before going to prison . `` Blanche Palfrey had awoken from a nap and began to search the residence for her daughter , '' police said . `` When she went outside , she noticed a three-wheel bicycle had been moved that was normally kept in the shed . '' The older woman then saw her daughter 's body hanging from a metal beam under the shed 's roof , police said . `` The mother 's obviously distraught , '' said Tarpon Springs police Capt . Jeffrey Young . `` This is the hardest part in any type of situation like this , when you have a suicide . It 's all the victims that are left behind . '' Police earlier said `` handwritten notes were found on scene that describes the victim 's intention to take her life , and foul play does not appear to be involved . '' The Pinellas County Medical Examiner 's Office will determine the cause of death , police said . Watch police confirm death of `` D.C. Madam '' » . Palfrey 's lawyers expressed sadness at news reports . `` I am devastated to hear about this , '' Montgomery Blair Sibley said before police confirmed the death . Her court-appointed lawyer Preston Burton said , `` This is tragic news . My heart goes out to her mother . '' She was found guilty of money laundering , racketeering and mail fraud and faced a maximum 55-year prison term at her sentencing , scheduled for July 24 . Prosecutors estimated that she would have received a sentence between 57 and 71 months , about six years , because of sentencing guidelines and other factors that would have been taken into account . `` I 'm looking at 55 years in a federal penitentiary , and at my age , that is virtually a life sentence , '' Palfrey told CNN Radio 's Ninette Sosa in March . `` Realistically , we estimate between eight and 15 years . I 'm also looking at the complete forfeiture of my entire life savings and work . '' She said the government `` went after me . 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 . '' Palfrey told writer Dan Moldea , who was helping her write a book , that she would commit suicide rather than return to jail , according to Time magazine . `` She had done time once before [ for prostitution ] , '' Moldea told Time . `` And it damn near killed her . '' Palfrey had made similar comments to ABC News in 2007 , saying , `` I sure as heck am not going to be going to federal prison for one day , let alone , you know , four to eight years . '' A spokesman for the U.S. attorney 's office in Washington , which prosecuted Palfrey , said , `` we extend our condolences to Ms. Palfrey 's family . '' At least one lawmaker , Louisiana Sen. David Vitter , a Republican , turned up in the phone records of her business , Pamela Martin & Associates . State Department official Randall Tobias resigned in May 2007 after confirming that he patronized Palfrey 's business . Palfrey argued her business was a legitimate , legal escort service . `` There 's no violence , there 's very little if any drug activity . There 's very little if any fraud . Basically a bunch of benign women who want to make a living . This is not racketeering by any means -- this is running a business , '' she told CNN Radio in March . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Paul Courson and Kevin Bohn and CNN Radio 's Ninette Sosa contributed to this report .
Deborah Jeane Palfrey said last year she would never go to prison . She hanged herself on mother 's property , police say . Suicide notes were found near the body , police say . Palfrey was convicted of running high - powered prostitution ring # 15 .