Prostitution arrests near a school
A Hoboken Police Department investigation on Friday, Sept. 17 led to the uncovering of an alleged prostitution operation at 324 Monroe St.
Elena Gubskaya, 49, of Fort Lee, was arrested and charged with promoting prostitution and operating a sexually-oriented business within 1,000 feet of a school, according to police.
Zhanna Surykava, 34, of Brooklyn, N.Y., has been charged with engaging in prostitution, promoting prostitution, and operating a sexually-oriented business within 1,000 feet of a school, according to a police report.
The police had received information from an anonymous citizen informant, according to a police report, who provided a website the establishment used to advertise. Police say a detective called the establishment to set up an appointment.
According to the police, at approximately 6 p.m., a detective entered the facility and paid $70, and then later put $200 on the massage table and asked, “What do I get for that much money?” After allegedly listing the explicit acts the money would pay for, one woman asked if the detective was a police officer, and the officer said yes, according to reports. According to police, the woman then asked if the detective was kidding, at which point the officer said “No,” and placed the two women under arrest.
“This was a sophisticated and well-planned operation that used technology, including a website to advertise their services covertly,” said Detective Lt. Mark Competello, Criminal Investigations Bureau Commander. “They (allegedly) operated the prostitution ring as if it was a legitimate business venture and brazenly engaged in this criminal enterprise in the midst of a residential area, in addition to operating within 1,000 feet of an elementary school. Although this activity may not be prevalent in the City of Hoboken, it serves notice that Hoboken is far from immune to these types of criminal enterprises.”
Former cop busted on weapons charges
A former New Jersey Institute of Technology police officer has been charged with possession of an assault firearm, and with possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, according to a police report released on Monday.
Matthew Casazza, 32, of Hoboken, was previously arrested and charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose on Aug. 29, after he allegedly was seen firing one shot from a handgun out of the sun roof of his vehicle while driving on the 500 block of Jackson Street.
The round did not injure anyone, according to police reports, but it is unknown where the round landed. As a result of the Aug. 29 arrest, a Hudson County Superior Court Judge ordered a psychological evaluation, and also ordered confiscation of all firearms recovered from the residence of Casazza, according to a police report.
On Sunday, detectives from the Hoboken Police Department recovered a cache of rifles, shotguns, ammunition, handguns and an SAR 1/AK 47 assault firearm, dummy hand grenades and four large capacity assault firearm magazines, according to police. All of the weapons, with the exception of the SAR 1/AK 47-assault firearm and the large capacity assault firearm magazines, were determined to be purchased and owned legally, according to police.
Casazza’s permit to carry a handgun for a retired law enforcement officer was also confiscated, according to a police report.
“All of Mr. Casazza’s firearms were legally purchased,” said Detective Lt Mark Competello, Detective Bureau Commander. “However, under N.J. law, it is a second-degree crime to either possess or purchase an assault firearm, in this instance an SAR 1/AK 47 assault firearm, as well as large-capacity magazines equipped to hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition.”
“There is absolutely no purpose either for recreation or otherwise for any person to own a dangerous assault weapon anywhere, especially in the city of Hoboken,” said Police Chief Anthony Falco. “I am just elated that this weapon was confiscated, and this most definitely makes the city a safer place.”
Alleged domestic attack with a cat
A 47-year-old Hoboken man was arrested and charged with simple assault (domestic violence) after allegedly hitting his girlfriend with a feline cat and punching her a few times in the back, according to a police report.
Lasalle Davis, of Hoboken, was arrested on Marshall Drive on Sept. 14 at 11:55 a.m. and charged with simple assault (domestic violence). The perpetrator was allegedly mad at the victim, a 20-year-old Jersey City resident, because she didn’t call him the night before, according to a police report. According to a report, the victim then told Davis “she longer wanted to date him,” and that is when he allegedly picked up the cat and hit her in the back of the head with the animal.