7 Long Island Men Busted in Prostitution Sting: Police

Seven Long Island men have been charged in prostitution sting in Riverside, police said.

According to Southampton Town Police, the police department's community response unit conducted the sting Friday evening and into the early hours of Saturday.

The enforcement action was in direct response to citizen and business owner complaints of frequent and highly visible prostitution in the area, police said.

An undercover officer posing as a prostitute was used during the operation, police said.

The area around the Riverside traffic circle was targeted based on the location of the complaints, police said.

In all, seven men were arrested and charged with for patronizing a prostitute in the third degree, a misdemeanor, police said.

One person was also nabbed and charged with open alcoholic beverage, a misdemeanor, and one person was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, police said, after he was observed operating a vehicle without headlights, a traffic infraction.

Additionally, one of the men was charged with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, after fighting with the arresting officers, police said.

The following men were arrested and charged with patronizing a prostitute in the third degree after they agreed to engage in sexual conduct in exchange for a fee, police said:

• Steven Jay Stoeckert, 40, of Southold; he was also charged with resisting arrest, police said.
• Felton Robinson, 55, of Islip
• Ivan J Pacheco, 33, of Hampton Bays
• Hector Porfirio, 55, of Riverhead
• Calvin R Brown, 34, of Brentwood
• Earl Baxter, 61, of Southampton
• Carlos Palacios, 27, of Flanders

All of the men arrested for patronizing a prostitute either posted bail and were to be were Saturday or ordered to return to Southampton Town Justice Court on April 27, police said.

The other men were released with field appearance tickets and ordered to return to court on a future date.