Paterson bar raided for prostitution, say police
By Jonathan Greene
Published: August 17, 2019
A downtown Paterson bar was raided late Friday night for operating as an alleged makeshift brothel, according to public safety director Jerry Speziale.
Police raided Moonlight Lounge at 98 Market Street at around 11:10 p.m. Before the raid, police received “numerous” complaints the bar was a hub for prostitution. Undercover detectives went in to investigate. Dancers were openly soliciting patrons for sex act in exchange for money, the investigation revealed.
Seven people – 2 managers and 5 dancers — were arrested.
Manager Ana Checo, 47, of Carlstadt, and manager-bartender Raquel Abreu, 41, of Paterson, were charged with promoting prostitution and maintaining a house of prostitution.
So-called dancers Betsy Arauco, 42, of Clifton; Thalia Diaz, 20, of Bronx, NY; Genesis Matos, 25, of Clifton; Maria Diaz, 45, of Bronx, NY; and Miledis Done-Caraballo, 46, of Bronx, NY, were each charged with prostitution.
Police confiscated $2,290 in suspected prostitution proceeds and lodged 10 liquor license violations against the establishment for allowing illegal activity.