Crime & Safety

Belleville Police Break up Alleged Prostitution Ring

Washington Avenue business was reportedly front for brothel

Belleville police yesterday arrested two women employed at a local business that was allegedly operating as a front for a house of prostitution, Deputy Chief Mark Minichini told Patch Friday.

Residents living near Skin Care, 270 Washington Ave., had complained for months about illegal activities there, Minichini said. Police conducted an investigation and sent in an undercover officer to make an appointment at the business, which was nominally operated as a provider of skin care treatment, Minichini said.

After the undercover officer was propositioned, police arrested Ksenia Pachtchenko, 30, of Queens, and 33-year-old Oksana Boychuk of Brooklyn. Both were charged with prostitution.

A third woman, 49-year-old Fort Lee resident Tatiana Serras, the business’s owner and suspected madame, was charged with maintaining a house of prostitution and promoting prostitution.

Serras was at large as of Friday afternoon and may have fled the country, Minichini said.

The area around the business is home to several families, Minichini noted, adding that the department successfully addressed a “quality of life issue.”

“We’re proud of the work our detectives did to solve this and happy to assist the residents there, including the families with children,” he said.


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