Destiny Smith
Philadelphia police vice officers arrested six people, including three from the Northeast, during two undercover prostitution investigations last weekend.
The Roosevelt Motor Inn at 7600 Roosevelt Blvd. in Rhawnhurst was the scene of one alleged sex-for-cash operation, police said. Investigators ended up there on Saturday after responding to an advertisement on a Web site that promoted the services of two women. An undercover officer called a telephone number in the ad and scheduled an appointment.
Once at the motel, the undercover officer was instructed to go to a second-floor room, where the women allegedly offered him sex for cash. Police arrested Destiny Smith, 20, and Regina Vargas, 20, at the scene. Both live on the 5800 block of N. American St. in Olney. They were charged with prostitution and conspiracy, then released on their own recognizance pending a June 27 preliminary hearing.
During the sting, vice officers also encountered Gregory Williams, 21, of the 400 block of Benson St. in Fox Chase. Williams was walking in the second-floor hallway with a suspicious bulge in his waistband, police said. When the officers ordered him to raise his hands, he allegedly ran from the motel and northbound on Roosevelt Boulevard. Police captured him after a short pursuit and charged him with carrying a firearm without a license and carrying a firearm in public.
He was released on Sunday after posting 10 percent of $50,000 bail, pending a preliminary hearing on July 5.
In a separate investigation also on Saturday, police locked up four âJohnsâ for allegedly trying to pick up hookers on Kensington Avenue. The would-be hookers actually were cops in disguise.
Eddie Robinson, 45, of the 4600 block of Mulberry St. in Frankford, and William Moncrief, 39, of the 11600 block of Kelvin Ave. in Somerton, were arrested for patronizing a prostitute, as were Juan Gonzalez, 38, of the 100 block of W. York St. in Kensington, and Rafal Dec, 34, of the 3100 block of Tilton St. in Port Richmond.
Police confiscated $387 cash and two cars during the sting. All four men were released on their own recognizance pending preliminary hearings next month. â˘â˘
Eddie Robinson
William Moncrief
Gregory Williams
