A college instructor and veteran police officer repeatedly named “Cop of the Month” moonlighted as pimps in a Lengthy Island prostitution ring that ran two brothels, prosecutors stated Tuesday.
The duo — Steven Arey, 53, and George Trimigliozzi, 55 — labored as managers at a Holbrook brothel dubbed the American Women Spa, accumulating so-called “house fees” from intercourse staff, hiring prostitutes and posting adverts to entice johns, based on an indictment unveiled in Suffolk County courtroom.
Arey, a phys ed instructor, labored in Islip for 26 years, whereas Trimigliozzi served as a Suffolk County Police Division cop for 18 years, officers stated.
Trimigliozzi as soon as deserted his police submit in 2021 and jetted off at near-90 mph speeds to intervene on the Holbrook brothel when a buyer had been robbed, prosecutors stated.
“It is a sad day in law enforcement when a public servant is arrested,” stated Suffolk County District Legal professional Raymond Tierney in an announcement.
“The allegations in this indictment describe a long-term pattern of organized criminal activity and a shocking betrayal of public trust.”
An almost five-year investigation discovered Arey and Trimigliozzi labored for the prostitution ring, which was run by Frank Saggio, 60, who allegedly had intercourse staff who couldn’t learn or communicate English signal “leases” requiring them to pay as much as $12,000 at his numerous brothels, prosecutors stated.
All the suspects appeared Tuesday together with Saggio’s girlfriend, Dana Ciardullo, 32, in a Suffolk County courthouse to be arraigned on a slew of prostitution-related costs.
Prosecutors stated Saggio ran a number of brothel suites within the American Women Spa alongside the Dawn Freeway, in addition to inside a location referred to as the Tunnel of Love in West Babylon, which was managed by Ciadullo.
Saggio faces two counts of intercourse trafficking primarily based on the accusations that he required intercourse staff pay him a minimal sum of money every month, prosecutors stated.
Arey and Trimigliozzi pleaded not responsible to twenty-eight and 17 counts, respectively, leveled towards them within the indictment, Newsday first reported.
Trimigliozzi had been named “cop of the month” six occasions, his lawyer stated in courtroom, based on Newsday.
