NEWS

Morris prosecutor seeks $9,273 seized in prostitution probes

Peggy Wright
@PeggyWrightDR

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office has filed three lawsuits for forfeiture of $9,273, a Lexus RX 350 and computer equipment that was seized during investigations between March and May by Pequannock police into alleged prostitution.

The complaints, made public Wednesday in state Superior Court, Morristown, were filed by county Assistant Prosecutor Alexis M. Keller and seek judgments for forfeiture of property that allegedly was used in the course of criminal activity or derived through criminal acts.

One lawsuit seeks forfeiture of $6,850, a 2008 Lexus RX 350, a computer monitor and two iPads seized during an investigation into suspected prostitution at a massage parlor called Natural and Artificial Care on Newark-Pompton Turnpike in Pequannock.

Police in April and May conducted an undercover probe at the business, during which officers posing as customers were given massages but then offered sexual favors for various prices, including “the whole thing,” which cost $220, the lawsuit said.

Officers found the $6,850 cash during execution of search warrants on the premises, on the Lexus and on a Mercedes Benz owned by employees of Natural and Artificial Care. The Lexus was targed for forfeiture because it allegedly was used to make prostitution-related house calls, the lawsuit said.

Authorities found a garbage bag containing 564 condoms, 49 female condoms and 268 lubricant packets in the Mercedes Benz, the lawsuit said.

A second lawsuit arising from an investigation in April and May into a massage parlor called GW Center on Route 23 in Pompton Plains seeks forfeiture of $1,268, a laptop computer, Hisense Smart tablet, and Denon amplifier.

The undercover investigation at GW allegedly involved officers being solicited for sex-for-cash after they paid for massages. One officer posing as a patron was groped by an employee during a pre-massage shower and given the option of paying extra for particular sex acts, the lawsuit said.

The third lawsuit arises from an investigation between March and May into suspected prostitution at Riverdale Therapy on Hamburg Turnpike in Riverdale. Pequannock police, in concert with other agencies, started an investigation after receiving initial information about activities at the business in the neighboring municipality, the lawsuit said.

Undercover officers paid $50 or $65 for massages but then allegedly were touched on intimate parts of their bodies or offered sexual services, the lawsuit said.

The Prosecutor’s Office is seeking forfeiture of $1,155, a computer monitor, laptop computer, printer and shredder seized during the investigation at Riverdale Therapy, the lawsuit said.

A total of eight women were arrested and charged during the investigations at the massage parlors, for various offenses that include promoting prostitution, conspiracy to engage in prostitution, maintaining a nuisance, and operating a sexually-oriented business within 1,000 feet of residential property.

Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.