72°
Steven Arey, age 53, and George Trimigliozzi, age 55, both of Islip, were indicted on promoting prostitution and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Prosecutors said Arey, who has taught in the Islip School District for 26 years, and Trimigliozzi, an 18-year veteran of the Suffolk County Police Department, hired sex workers, collected proceeds of prostitution known as “house fees,” and posted ads seeking patrons of prostitution.
Between October 2019 and June 2024, both men served as managers on behalf of a third defendant – 60-year-old Frank Saggio, of West Islip – at a building on Sunrise Highway in Holbrook known as the American Girls Spa “Suite 3,” prosecutors said.
The building housed two additional brothels managed by Saggio: Spa “Suite 4” and Reiki for Healing “Suite 5,” according to investigators.
A fourth defendant – Dana Ciardullo, age 32, of North Bellmore – allegedly served as a manager on Saggio’s behalf at a second location in West Babylon, known as the Tunnel of Love.
An investigation found that Saggio forced women to engage in prostitution in order to pay him a minimum amount of money each month, prosecutors said.
Specifically, he allegedly had sex workers who could not read or speak English sign purported leases requiring them to pay $6,000 a month in Suite 4, and $12,000 a month at Tunnel of Love.
The illegal operation finally came crumbling down in March 2021, when a patron at the American Girls Spa called 911 reporting that he had been robbed while waiting to be seen.
A sex worker called Trimigliozzi about the incident and told him that police officers would be dispatched to the location. Despite being on duty at the time, Trimigliozzi abandoned his Third Precinct post and raced at speeds nearing 90 miles per hour in his marked patrol car to the Holbrook brothel, prosecutors said.
Once there, he allegedly falsified police paperwork and failed to disclose his unauthorized response to the spa. He also falsified police records by not disclosing his outside employment as a manager in Saggio’s alleged criminal enterprise, prosecutors allege.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said the investigation uncovered a long-term pattern of organized criminal activity and a “shocking” betrayal of public trust.
“It is a sad day in law enforcement when a public servant is arrested,” Tierney said. “However, I made a commitment to this county that no one is above the law, and that includes those who are supposed to embody the best of public service.”
In court Tuesday, the defendants were indicted on the following counts:
Saggio:
- Enterprise corruption (felony)
- Two counts of sex trafficking (felony)
- 51 counts of promoting prostitution (felony)
Trimigliozzi:
- Enterprise corruption (felony)
- 13 counts of promoting prostitution (felony)
- Two counts of falsifying business records (felony)
- Offering a false instrument for filing (felony)
- Official misconduct (misdemeanor)
Arey:
- Enterprise corruption (felony)
- 27 counts of promoting prostitution (felony)
Ciardullo:
- Enterprise corruption (felony)
- 17 counts of promoting prostitution (felony)
Saggio was held on a $500,000 bond while the remaining defendants were each held on a $50,000 bond. If convicted, all four face up to 25 years in prison.
Arey teaches physical education at Islip High School, where he is also an assistant wrestling coach. He was placed on leave following his arrest.
Daily Voice has reached out to the Islip School District for comment and will update this story should the district respond.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Oyster Bay and receive free news updates.
