Woman Charged With Prostitution At N. Plainfield Massage Parlor

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — Authorities arrested a woman working at a North Plainfield massage parlor and charged her with prostitution following complaints from concerned citizens.

Luceana Mendes, 37, of Jabez Street, Newark was charged with prostitution, a disorderly persons offense, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

The investigation was spurred after concerned citizens made complaints to police about acts of prostitution being conducted at the massage parlor on Route 22 in North Plainfield. The name or address of the massage parlor was not disclosed by authorities.

On Wednesday, March 6 an undercover detective from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office went into the massage parlor where he Mendes allegedly propositioned him for a sexual act in exchange for cash, Robertson said.

The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force and members of the North Plainfield Police Department went into the massage parlor and arrested Mendes.

Mendes was transported to the North Plainfield Police Department, charged, and later released on her own recognizance.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Organized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force Unit at 908-231-7100, or the North Plainfield Police Department
908-769-2937, or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app can be downloaded to your smartphone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: "SOMERSETNJ".

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.