Vineland (N.J.) Daily Journal
VINELAND, N.J. -- Police arrested a 60-year-old woman on prostitution charges after she allegedly solicited an undercover officer in her East Vineland, N.J., home.
Babette Massaro was charged with prostitution Jan. 24 and released on a summons, according to a police report released Wednesday.
In January, police launched an investigation after they received information about a woman operating a prostitution business from her home. It was reported that "a variety of males" were seen coming and going from the residence, according to police reports.
Officers set up surveillance and questioned a man they saw leave the house.
When asked about his activities, the man told officers he had gone to the house and paid for sex, police said.
As part of their investigation, police said, they learned Massaro was advertising her services in an Atlantic City weekly publication in the personal column of the classified section and had been doing so for years.
Potential clients would contact her by phone, then set up an appointment to come to her house, according to police.
Vineland police initiated an undercover operation. A detective contacted Massaro using the number in the classified ad and set up an appointment.
When the undercover officer arrived at the home, Massaro was placed under arrest after soliciting him for several hundred dollars, police said.
Massaro told police she was dealing with financial issues and also was breeding Yorkshire terriers at her home as an additional source of income, authorities said.
Officers said she was acting alone.