75 year old Accused Of Running A Prostitution Ring
James Parham, 75, Accused Of Running Prostitution Ring In Senior Housing Complex
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This housing complex gives new meaning to the term "senior benefits."
James Parham, 75, was arrested for allegedly running a prostitution den out of apartments in an Englewood, N.J. public senior housing complex, according to NBC New York.
Parham employed a "mix of young women and older residents" cops told the station on Tuesday.
Englewood Patch reports that Parham allegedly told cops the prostitutes were mostly "crack-addicted women." None of the alleged prostitutes were charged in the bust, which also netted fellow housing complex resident Cheryl Chaney, 66, who was accused of possessing drug paraphernalia and maintaining a nuisance for allegedly allowing drug use in her apartment.
PIX 11 reports that eviction proceedings have been launched against Parham and Chaney.
Police said they learned of the criminal activity from residents at a senior safety seminar in March. "Residents of the facility reported seeing drunks, vagrants and drug addicts regularly wandering in and out," PIX 11 reports.
Both are charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a nuisance, and Chaney is also charged with possession of crack cocaine.
In Parham's case, the nuisance charge relates to allowing prostitution in his apartment and in Chaney's case, it relates to allowing drug use in hers.
Englewood Police Chief Arthur O'Keefe told NBC 4 New York on Tuesday that Parham ran the prostitution ring through his apartments, and employed a mix of young women and older residents.
None of the alleged prostitutes were arrested.
O'Keefe says there was also s-x and drug use going on in common areas of the complex, and that some seniors were afraid to venture into certain areas because they were afraid for their lives.
Richard Allaway, a resident, says he and others were aware of "a lot of nonsense going on."
A lack of security in the building is believed to have contributed to the problem.
Another woman, 54-year-old Selma McDuffie, was arrested during the bust, and charged with having a crack pipe.
Amid resident complaints of loitering and condoms in the common areas, Englewood cops set up an undercover sting to nab Parham.
Not surprisingly, Parham, his sidekicks, and others who participated in illegal activity, are being evicted from the 152-unit structure.