November 16, 1998
98 COUNT INDICTMENT CHARGES ATTICA INMATE WITH OPERATING NEW YORK CITY PROSTITUTION RING FROM UPSTATE PRISON CELL; SIX OTHERS ALSO CHARGED
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, joined by Commissioner Glenn S. Goord of the New York State Department of Correctional Services, New York State Police Superintendent James W. McMahon and officials of the New York City Police Department, announced today the arrest and indictment of a 37 year old Howard Beach man on charges of running a prostitution ring that grossed thousands of dollars a week from the upstate prison cells where he was incarcerated. Six other individuals were also indicted in connection with the operation of the organization, three of whom have previously been arrested and three of whom are presently being sought.
District Attorney Brown said, "The investigation leading to today's indictment was conducted jointly with the New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) Office of the Inspector General, the New York State Police and the New York City Police Department's Vice Enforcement Squad. The investigation began in December 1997 when DOCS investigators monitoring inmate telephone calls learned that the defendant Alfonso Rizzuto, then an inmate at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York, was operating an escort service. The New York State Police and DOCS officials contacted my office and together with the New York City Police Department's Queens Vice Enforcement Squad an investigation was undertaken. That investigation, which continued after Rizzuto was transferred to Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York in 1998, has now resulted in the filing of a 98 count indictment that was unsealed today".
Commissioner Goord said, "Today's arrest points out two very important facts. First, that District Attorney Brown is as committed as Governor George Pataki to ensuring the closest possible cooperation among law enforcement agencies for the protection of all New Yorkers. Second, the inmate collect call-only `phone-home' program remains as useful a tool in documenting the on-going illegal efforts of criminals as it is a means for allowing inmates to maintain ties with their families back home." Commissioner Goord noted that there are signs posted by all phones, in English as well as in Spanish, advising inmates that their calls may be monitored and/or tape recorded. In addition, Commissioner Goord noted, long-distance carriers paid the Department $25 million last year in commissions on those inmate collect-only telephone calls, which helped offset the cost of operating the state's prison system.
Superintendent McMahon said, "This investigation demonstrates how cooperative ventures among several law enforcement agencies can result in the dismantling of a criminal enterprise. Criminal activity does not respect borders or jurisdictions. In this case," he said, "the primary defendant was in two upstate correctional facilities, which are located on opposite ends of the state, while the criminal enterprise operated in New York City. Surely no single agency could have been nearly as successful working independently on this case. Resources were pooled and in the end, a 98 count indictment was obtained and the activities of this operation were halted."
According to District Attorney Brown, it is alleged that from March 1996 to July 29, 1998 Rizzuto, who on February 21, 1997 appeared in disguise as the operator of a prostitution service on a segment of the Sally Jesse Raphael Show entitled "Mom, I want to be a Teen Prostitute", ran a prostitution ring under the guise of an escort service in Queens County, employing approximately 20 women as prostitutes and using a network of telephone lines located in the homes of various co-defendants to dispatch the women on calls to motels and private residences across the five boroughs, as well as Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
The District Attorney said that the indictment alleges that beginning on April 7, 1997, after Rizzuto was imprisoned in the Sullivan Correctional Facility on a parole violation stemming from a robbery conviction, the defendant Theresa Parisi, 41, of 206-18 45th Road, Bayside, New York became the manager of the business which employed, among others, the defendants Lisa Hill, 37, of 654 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, New York and Linda Giles, 38, of 71-50 Austin Street, Forest Hills, New York and others who acted as dispatchers for the organization. He added that it is alleged further that from April 1997 until July 1998, Theresa Parisi conducted the day to day business of the operation on Rizzuto's behalf and under his direction, including placing advertisements in such publications as the Yellow Pages, the Pennysaver and the Queens Tribune. She also allegedly coordinated the installation of various telephone lines, the transfer of calls between dispatchers, meetings between Rizzuto and the dispatchers and relayed information between Rizzuto and other members of the organization, the District Attorney said.
The District Attorney added that it is alleged that while he was in prison, initially at the Sullivan Correctional Facility and later at the Attica Correctional Facility, Rizzuto continued to direct the overall operation of the prostitution ring through the defendant Parisi and the dispatchers, instructing them with respect to ring's method of operation, how to hire prostitutes and drivers and the rules to be followed by the prostitutes while on calls. In addition, he allegedly continued to receive half of the fee of each prostitute, at least three of whom were 18 years old, splitting that amount with others in the organization. It is estimated, according to District Attorney Brown, that the ring grossed between $5,000 and $10,000 a week over a two year period.
District Attorney Brown said the defendants are all charged with Enterprise Corruption under the New York State Organized Crime Control Act and if convicted of that charge face up to twenty five years in prison. In addition, they are charged with multiple counts of promoting prostitution, grand larceny and conspiracy. Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree and Grand Larceny in the Third Degree are both Class D felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison upon conviction.
The investigation leading to the arrest and indictment of the defendants was carried out by Detective Samuel DiFiglia of the New York City Police Department's Queens Vice Enforcement Squad which is under the command of Captain Brendan Dolan; New York State Police Investigator Alan D. Brown and Senior Investigator John Cassino under the supervision of Major James Harney and Senior Investigator Kenneth Torreggiani of the New York State Department of Correctional Services Inspector General's Office under the supervision of Inspector General Brian Malone. Assistant District Attorneys Stephen N. Siegel and Bret Harvey of the District Attorney's Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau which is under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Brian J. Mich and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Robert D. Alexander is in charge of the prosecution.
District Attorney Brown also thanked the Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office and the Pennsylvania State Attorney General's Office for their assistance.
It should be noted that an indictment is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The defendants are as follows:
Alfonso Rizzuto DOB 8/10/61
Inmate Number 88A-2885
LKA 160-04 92nd Street
Howard Beach, New York
Theresa Parisi DOB 7/17/57
206-18 45th Road
Bayside, New York
Linda Giles DOB 10/25/51
71-50 Austin Street #20
Forest Hills, New York
Lisa Hill DOB 3/26/61
654 Jamaica Avenue
Brooklyn, New York
Warrants have been issued for the following:
Paul Colletti DOB 1/14/60
7285 Broadmoor Drive
New Port Richey, Florida
Marcellus Walker DOB 5/28/68
158-16 Sanford Avenue, Apt #3A
Flushing, New York
Waldina McGuinn DOB 9/13/65
3921 New Utrecht Avenue, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, New York