Crime & Safety

Brothel Neighbor: 'I Didn't Know'

Said she had no idea a brothel was operating directly across the street from her home.

The scene was quiet outside 320 Maple Avenue Monday morning, with yellow police tape cordoning off the home where authorities busted an alleged house of prostitution on Sunday.

The modest home, which sits next to an overgrown lot and another, vacant residence for sale, is sited only feet away from a "Children At Play" sign.

On Sunday, Riverhead Town police arrested Adrian Figueroa, 43, of 320 Maple Avenue and charged with promoting prostitution in the third degree.

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On Monday morning, neighbor Barbara Bogue, who lives directly across the street from the alleged brothel, said she came home from church Sunday and found her normally quiet street swarming with police.

A neighbor told her what had happened, and Bogue said she'd had no clue that Figueroa was allegedly operating a house of prostitution out of the residence.

Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bogue, who said she works long night hours, is often asleep early in the afternoon. "I didn't know what was happening over there," she said. "As long as they don't bother me, I don't bother them."

But Bogue said she was not fearful after learning about the prostitution bust. "It's everywhere," she said. "You hear about it on the news. People are trying to get money -- times are hard."

An elderly gentleman, who lives on the same street but declined to give his name, said he lived at the home where the alleged prostitution was taking place back in the 1950s. He said he was not surprised to hear the news. "I knew it would happen," he said. "Because it always does."

According to Riverhead Town police, a call was received at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday that a woman was possibly being held against her will and forced into prostitution at a house located at 320 Maple Avenue in Riverhead.

Police said that after arriving at the residence, several subjects were detained. Several subjects allegedly fled the scene on foot; another individual, who was found in the area operating a vehicle, was allegedly directly involved, according to a witness.

The operator of the vehicle, Figueroa, who lives at 320 Maple Avenue, was transported to Riverhead Town police headquarters for questioning. He was later placed under arrest after police said it was determined he was the person controlling the prostitution business out of the residence. Figueroa was processed and held overnight until he could be arraigned on charges of promoting prostitution in the third degree.

Further investigation revealed that the home was being used as a "house of prostitution," police said; the two women found inside were allegedly determined to be there of their own free will.


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