Eight arrested in valentine's day prostitution sting
Giving money to prostitute. horizontal image, toned image

Eight Arrested in Valentine’s Day Prostitution Sting

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1 min read
February 15, 2024

Schenectady, NY – Eight people were arrested, and their Valentine’s Day festivities came to an end when police conducted an anti-prostitution sting in Schenectady.

In a coordinated effort to combat prostitution, the Schenectady Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), alongside the New York State Police VGNET and the Schenectady County Street Crimes Task Force, conducted a targeted operation on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. The operation successfully led to the arrest of eight individuals.

This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of local and state law enforcement agencies to address and deter illegal activities within the community.

The operation was part of ongoing efforts to uphold public safety and community standards in Schenectady and surrounding areas.

  • Schenectady Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit, New York State Police VGNET, and Schenectady County Street Crimes Task Force collaborated on a prostitution sting on February 14, 2024, resulting in eight arrests.
  • The operation is part of ongoing efforts by local and state law enforcement to combat illegal activities and enhance community safety in Schenectady.
  • Details on the identities of the individuals arrested or the specific charges were not released, emphasizing the continuous vigilance against activities that compromise community standards.

Arrested and charged were:

Faith Bertrand (32) of Schenectady -Prostitution (Class B Misdemeanor)
Michelle Brown (37) of Schenectady – Prostitution (Class B Misdemeanor)
Alyssa Ballard (32) of Schenectady – Prostitution (Class B Misdemeanor)
Lenny Latendresse (30) of Nassau – Patronizing a Prostitute 3rd (Class A Misdemeanor)
Abdulsami Ghairatmal (38) of Schenectady – Patronizing a Prostitute 3rd (Class A Misdemeanor)
Mohamed Aleem (69) of Schenectady – Patronizing a Prostitute 3rd (Class A Misdemeanor)
Johnny Lugo (60) of Amsterdam – Patronizing a Prostitute 3rd (Class A Misdemeanor)
Keith McDowell (63) of Schenectady- Patronizing a Prostitute 3rd (Class A Misdemeanor)

All arrested were released and are scheduled to appear in Schenectady City Court in March.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

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