RAIDS IN JACKSON HEIGHTS AND CORONA NET 23 ARRESTS AND SHUTTER 10 BROTHELS

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today that last night police officers of the Queens Vice Enforcement Squad and other commands arrested 23 people on prostitution charges and closed 10 brothels under the State's Nuisance Abatement Law in raids on Roosevelt Avenue and nearby streets in Jackson Heights and Corona.

District Attorney Brown said, "Last night's raids -- which were carried out by over 75 police officers -- are important not simply because we have closed down 10 more houses of prostitution in Jackson Heights and Corona and arrested 23 individuals for prostitution -- but also because of the message that we send that law enforcement continues to be committed to stopping this kind of activity in Queens County.

"Over these past few years we have closed over 300 houses of prostitution and made hundreds of prostitution arrests. We have seized the cars belonging to those who patronize prostitutes and have used both criminal and civil proceedings to stop prostitution. Last month we brought criminal charges against a landlord for illegally converting his premises for the purpose of allowing prostitution to take place on those premises, and endangering the welfare of children who lived therein.

"By our actions last night, we continue to send a clear and unequivocal message that we will not tolerate prostitution within our residential communities and the deterioration that it brings to the quality of life in those neighborhoods."

The following locations were closed: 88-04 Roosevelt Avenue (2nd Floor); 88-14 Roosevelt Avenue (basement); 88-22 Roosevelt Avenue (basement); 88-22 Roosevelt Avenue (2nd Floor); 89-04 Roosevelt Avenue (2nd Floor); 89-14 Roosevelt Avenue (2nd Floor); 79-15 Roosevelt Avenue (2nd Floor); 112-20 Roosevelt Avenue (2nd Floor); 102-03A 44th Avenue, entire bldg and 102-07 44th Avenue, entire bldg.

District Attorney Brown commended the men and women of the Police Department's Vice Enforcement Division, its Boro Conditions Unit and the Department's Legal Bureau for the initiative, especially Deputy Inspector Michael Brooks, Captain Brendan Dolan and Lt. Al Pignataro of the Department's Vice Enforcement Division and Lt. Kathleen Vanderberg of the Queens Boro Conditions Unit.

It should be noted that an arrest is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.