Crime & Safety

Hopatcong Man Among 11 Charged in Underage Prostitution Bust

Authorities find two teen girls who allegedly were involved in Web-based escort service.

A Hopatcong man was among 11 arrested last week in a bust of what police say was an Internet-based escort service using underage girls.

The New Brunswick Police Department, Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and FBI collaborated on the investigation, which found two girls, who are 15 and 17, on Friday night.

Both girls were assisted by the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency and will be returned to their families, according to a news release from the New Brunswick Police Department. 

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The bust netted 11 arrests of adults who face a number of charges, including engaging in prostitution, promoting prostitution, providing false information to law enforcement and possession of controlled dangerous substance(s), according to the release.

They are:

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  • Peter Marel, 42, of Spotswood, charged with promoting prostitution.
  • Nicholas Foit, 28, of Hopatcong, charged with promoting prostitution.
  • Bobby Gregory, 25, of Piscataway, charged with promoting prostitution.
  • Casey Walsh, 19, of Warren, charged with promoting prostitution and possession of heroin.
  • Isis Cruz, 35, of Massillon, Ohio, charged with engaging in prostitution.
  • Angela Rogel, 25, of Massillon, Ohio, charged with engaging in prostitution.
  • Evan Morgan, 23, of Newark, charged with engaging in prostitution.
  • Jennifer Walden, 43, of San Bernadino, Calif., charged with engaging in prostitution.
  • Cathryn Hughes, 27, of Milford, Pa., charged with engaging in prostitution.
  • Kia-Lynn Howard, 20, of Plainfield, charged with engaging in prostitution and possession of marijuana.
  • Ronald Garris, 28, of Plainfield, charged with Providing False Information to law enforcement.

All arrests were made in New Brunswick, according to Capt. J.T. Miller of the New Brunswick Police Department.

Miller declined to say where in New Brunswick the arrests were made. 

New Jersey State Police, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Franklin Township Police Department aided in the operation, according to the release. 


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