Philadelphia police investigating a suspected house of prostitution in Tacony got a bonus last Thursday — they also made a drug bust there.
A man and a woman are now facing prostitution and drug-related criminal charges.
Neighborhood complaints prompted members of the citywide vice unit to launch a sting involving a house at 4119 Princeton Ave., said Officer Christine O’Brien, a police spokeswoman. An undercover officer went to the house on Thursday at about 2 p.m. and allegedly was offered sex in exchange for money.
During a subsequent search of the property, police allegedly found 56 bags of heroin, five packets of crack cocaine, various prescription pills and drug paraphernalia. Officers also seized $2,300 in suspected criminal proceeds and paraphernalia associated with prostitution activities.
Two residents of the house were arrested. Jessica Popper, 25, was charged with prostitution, criminal solicitation and criminal conspiracy. Enoch Smith, 34, was charged with conspiracy, promoting prostitution, drug possession, possession with intent to deliver and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Popper previously pleaded no contest to prostitution-related charges in connection with an April 2010 arrest and was sentenced to one year probation.
Smith was convicted of trespassing and stalking in 2004 and sentenced to up to 23 months in prison. In 2002, he was convicted of theft and conspiracy and sentenced to up to 23 months in prison.
He also received three years probation for an auto-theft-related conviction in 1996. ••
