By Maria Prato-Gaines, The Packet Group
MILLSTONE New Jersey State Police busted a local prostitution ring last month, which they say catered to the Hispanic community.
Two of the eight people arrested, after search warrants were executed at two alleged brothels, were from East Windsor and Hightstown.
Police had the two locations in question, 296 Monmouth Road and 1022 Windsor Road, under surveillance for several weeks after receiving a tip from an anonymous caller in early February, said Trooper Michael Zanyor, a spokesman for State Police Troop C at the Hamilton Station.
Around 7 p.m. Feb. 20 troopers and K-9 units executed dual search warrants and made several arrests at both locations, which are separated by about 6 miles, he said.
”There was nothing we could find that shows the two were related,” Trooper Zanyor said of the alleged brothels.
Police found several pieces of evidence during the busts that suggested the two buildings operated as brothels.
”We recovered several condoms and other accessories for that type of work,” Trooper Zanyor said. “We observed a lot of used condoms in both buildings.”
Of those arrested, all were Hispanic immigrants, who face charges of either prostitution or promoting prostitution, according to a New Jersey State Police press release.
”Everyone arrested had some sort of immigration issue,” Trooper Zanyor said. “The federal government will take custody of them once everything has been adjudicated at the local level.”
Investigators believe most of the patrons who frequented the establishments came from neighboring communities with larger Hispanic populations, such as Hightstown and Freehold, he said.
”It was (spread) by word of mouth through the Spanish-speaking communities,” Trooper Zanyor said. “You had to speak Spanish to patronize both establishments.”
During their investigations, police determined clients typically paid anywhere from $30 to $50 for sexual intercourse with the women, he said.
”Prospective clients would knock on the door and negotiate a price,” Trooper Zanyor said.
Three of the individuals who were arrested are believed to have been soliciting prostitution at the time of the raid, Trooper Zanyor said.
Police were unable find any records of past clients from either establishment but did recover a little more than $1,000 from the two locations, he said.
”Other avenues we have been looking into is if there was anyone above them promoting prostitution,” Trooper Zanyor said.
Those charged with promoting prostitution include Felipe Flores Tlaxqueno, 46, and Martin Mayares, 27, both of Millstone.
Those facing prostitution charges include Carlos Gonzalez, 25, of East Windsor; Lauro Japon, 21, of Hightstown; Leticia Gutierrez, 35, of Union City; Alfonjso Tiro, 29, of Colts Neck; Eladina Herrera, 40, of Bronx, N.Y.; and Guadalupe Lopez, 35, of Queens, N.Y.
Prostitution is a misdemeanor crime, while promoting prostitution is a felony crime, Trooper Zanyor explained.
State police initially revealed the arrests at the March 18 meeting of the Millstone Township Council.