In the immortal words of Hill Street Blues, lets be carefull out there.
8 Charged in Escort Service Bust
Police from the Suffolk district attorney's office have arrested a Brentwood couple, five women and their bodyguard in a bust of an escort service conducting business in Suffolk motels.
Ronald Grab, 38, and his wife Melissa Grab, 33, both of 65 Prospect Ave., were each charged Friday with third-degree promoting prostitution, according to Bob Clifford, spokesman for the Suffolk County district attorney's office.
Prosecutors said the couple owned and operated Exotic Escorts of Brentwood. Also charged with third-degree promoting prostitution was Carlos Reinoso, 33, of Bay Shore, who prosecutors said was a driver and bodyguard employed by Exotic.
On Friday, undercover officers posing as customers called the agency and planned a rendezvous with female escorts at the Commack Motor Inn on Jericho Turnpike, the Holiday Inn on Expressway Drive South in Hauppauge and the EconoLodge on Route 454 in Ronkonkoma, according to the release.
When the women asked for $500 in exchange for sex, they were arrested, prosecutors said.
This week, as part of the three-month investigation, an undercover detective began negotiating with Ronald Grab to buy his prostitution ring for $50,000.
"He told us about where he kept his money, how he paid the escorts, the whole financial end to it - and how he evaded detection by police," said Det. Sgt. David Tricamo, who headed the investigation for the district attorney's office. "He gave us tips on how to avoid being caught."
Acting on a search warrant of Grab's home, officers found $158,450 in cash and business records of the names, addresses and phone numbers of the service's clientele.
The women charged with prostitution, a misdemeanor, are: Maria Colon, 31, of Roosevelt; Consuelo Arrascue, 43, of Medford; Adria Heba, 33, of Coram; Tara Casternovia, 18, of Ozone Park; and Maria Agulor, 26, of the Bronx.
Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.
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