CRACKDOWN IN QUEENS: NYPD raids brothel hours after WINS report on open prostitution along Roosevelt Avenue

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – The NYPD raided a brothel in Jackson Heights late Wednesday, hours after 1010 WINS reported on open prostitution and rampant quality-of-life issues along Roosevelt Avenue.

Police showed up in large numbers unannounced around 6:30 p.m. at the brothel near the 90th Street Triangle. WINS reported earlier in the day that prostitution was happening in broad daylight at the location.

During a walk-through of the neighborhood, Hiram Monserrate, a former City Council member and state senator, told WINS the situation had become so out of control that “there’s more brothels than bodegas.”

Monserrate said hundreds of people witnessed the evening raid, including people watching from the stairs and platform of the elevated 7-line station.

“I would say there were about 300 to 400 residents watching this,” he said. “And I looked up at the 7 train on 90th Street—from the platform, up the stairs, you had about 50, 60 people on the stairways watching the bust and the raid.”

Police searched the location and carted off evidence, according to Monserrate.

“They took about three or four sex workers, they put them in a van, and also customers, and possibly some of the pimps that were watching the women or looking out for them, whatever way you want to term it,” he said.

Monserrate estimates there may be more than 30 additional brothels in the area and that there are possibly hundreds operating across Queens. He said the brothels are operating with the help of criminal syndicates that are taking advantage of people to make a profit. He hopes the women working there will get the resources they need to reacclimate to a life outside of prostitution.

He also hopes Wednesday’s raid is part of a sustained response by the NYPD, who he said needs more funding and support.

“People live here, this is their community, they have children, they have babies in carriages,” he said. “And they are clearly outraged that this has gotten to this level. But they are clearly happy that the police department made a major initiative.”

Roosevelt Avenue has long been known as a bustling and cosmopolitan corridor below the 7 line in Woodside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Corona, but in recent years the number of illicit operations has grown, residents say.

Prostitution isn’t the only concern in the area. Residents have also called attention to open drug use and shoplifting gangs who resell stolen merchandise as illegal street vendors.

A coalition of residents has planned a rally, “Roosevelt Avenue in Crisis: Demand Change Now!” It's scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. at the 90th Street Triangle.