Prostitution Bust in String of Parsippany Hotels

A line of Route 46 hotels and one on Route 10 in Hanover Township were the targets of a Parsippany Police-led prostitution sting that led to multiple arrests within the past two weeks.

The hotels involved in the investigation were the Howard Johnson Express Hotel, Days Inn and Red Roof Inn, all on Route 46, and the Route 10 Econolodge.

According to a PPD statement, a joint investigation was initiated by Parsippany police and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office after officers received emailed complaints involving prostitution occurring in area hotels.

Police said the probe led to several arrests:

• Melanie Tomasino, 20, of South River and 21-year-old Rahway resident Heather Keen were both arrested at the Parsippany Days Inn on Feb. 15. Both women were charged with solicitation of prostitution and were released pending a court appearance. 
• On Feb. 21, 29-year-old Sharease Gary of Philadelphia, Pa., Zhai Wen Yan, 40, of Flushing, N.Y., and 44-year-old Zhen Yu Gong, also of Flushing, were all arrested at the Howard Johnson Express Hotel in Parsippany. All three women were charged with solicitation of prostitution and released pending an appearance in court.
• Si Wen Zhang, 31, of Flushing, was arrested Feb. 22 at the Days Inn. On that same day, 24-year-old Alicia Dorsey of Phoenix, Ariz., was nabbed at the Parsippany Red Roof Inn and 31-year-old Boston resident Lyndsay Grey was arrested at the Hanover Township Econolodge.

All eight women were charged with solicitation of prostitution and released pending court appearances, police said.

The arrests were the result of a joint effort of the Parsippany police and the prosecutor's office, along with the police departments of Hanover Township and Denville.