Prostitutes busted in stings in Liberty, Canfield

Nine women accused of prostitution are off the streets following a bust in Trumbull County.

The sting operation happened on Wednesday. Liberty Township Police Chief Rich Tisone said the women advertised their services online.

Officers with his department, along with several other agencies, acted as though they were customers and called the women to meet them at a Liberty Township hotel, where they were then arrested.

Two men also were arrested on a charge of promoting prostitution, which is a felony charge.

A 16-month old child that was with one of the women was taken into custody by Children Services.

Those charged will appear in Girard Municipal Court on Tuesday morning.

Liberty, the FBI, Trumbull-Ashtabula Drug Task Force, Hubbard City Police, Youngstown Police and the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force participated in the sting.

 

Those arrested were:

  • Jessica Mason
  • Susan Reynolds
  • Jamie Cunningham
  • Amy Marsh
  • Carrie Schuck
  • Lavecia Reed
  • Christine Petruzzi
  • Heather Upole
  • Shanika Simmons
  • Joseph Newman
  • Matthew Pupio

Simmons also was arrested in a prostitution sting in Canfield on Friday, according to Canfield police. Simmons and Leah Petruzzi were arrested Friday afternoon.

Police said they had received complaints about a home on Hood Drive and learned later an ad had been placed online referring to “exotic beauty” in Canfield. When undercover officers called the number listed in the ad, they were led to Petruzzi’s home on Hood Drive, where the women were arrested.

According to reports, Pupio was arrested in a prostitution sting at a hotel in Boardman in June.

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