Cops Bust Prostitution Ring ... at Senior Citizen Home

Neighbors, 75 and 66, are suspected masterminds
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted May 14, 2013 2:14 PM CDT
Cops Bust Prostitution Ring ... at Senior Citizen Home
   (Shutterstock)

The suspects are accused of running a prostitution ring out of their apartments, using cocaine, and ultimately causing drunks and drug addicts to bother others living in the building, pass out in the halls, and leave used condoms in the rec room. Oh, the building in question? It's a senior citizen housing complex in New Jersey, and the two main suspects who were arrested after a drug and prostitution sting last month are 75 and 66 years old, the Record reports. James Parham and neighbor Cheryl Chaney are suspected of being behind the recent increase in crime; a third suspect, 54, was also arrested on drug charges.

Parham has admitted he provided crack-addicted prostitutes to younger neighbors at the building (which does require a criminal background check of new residents—"they came up absolutely clean," says a housing authority director of the suspects). Residents started complaining about the drunks, drug addicts, used condoms, and other troubles, and police say many were scared to leave their apartments. An undercover investigation and police surveillance ultimately led to Parham and Chaney—who are, not surprisingly, being evicted. (More drug bust stories.)

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