Anonymous tip leads to prostitution arrests

HOBOKEN – A Hoboken Police Department investigation on Friday 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, providing a website the establishment used to advertise. On Friday, Sept. 17, 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.
“As a result of an anonymous tip from a concerned citizen, HPD anti-vice detectives engaged in an undercover sting operation that resulted in arrests of the individuals running the escort ring, as well as closing down their illegal operation,” according to a release from Detective Lt. Mark Competello, Criminal Investigations Commander. “This was a sophisticated and well planned operation that used technology, including a website to advertise their services covertly. 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.”
Ray Smith