7 charged in prostitution sting arraigned in Girard

Staff report

GIRARD

Seven of 11 people arrested in a prostitution sting last week were arraigned Tuesday morning in Girard Municipal Court.

The sting took place at hotels on Belmont Avenue, Liberty Township Police Chief Richard Tisone said. Police would not name any of the hotels involved.

Among the 11 arrested, there are 28 misdemeanor charges and four felony charges, the chief said.

Nine women and two men were arrested.

A 16-month old child was removed from his mother at one hotel and placed with Children Services, Tisone said.

Those who were arraigned Tuesday were:

Jessica Lee Mason, 21, East Liberty Street, Girard. She is charged with possession of criminal tools and solicitation. Her pretrial is set for 9 a.m. Nov. 5. She was released on a personal recognizance bond.

Susan Reynolds, 29, Sillman Street, Youngstown. She is charged with possession of criminal tools and solicitation. Her pretrial is set for 9 a.m. Nov. 5. She was released on a personal recognizance bond.

Amy Renee Marsh, 23, Clinton, Pa. She is charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her pretrial is set for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 10.

Joseph A. Newman, 63, Woodbine Avenue, Youngstown. He is charged with promoting prostitution. Court records do not indicate bail or date of pretrial.

Carrie Ann Schuck, 28, Youngstown. She is charged with soliciting, possession of criminal tools, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Court records do not show bail or date of pretrial.

Shanika Simmons, 31, Youngstown. She is charged with promoting prostitution, possessing criminal tools and endangering children. Court records do not show bail or date of pretrial.

Matthew J. Pupio, 29, Youngstown. He is charged with promoting prostitution and possession of criminal tools. Court records do not show bail or date of pretrial.

These people did not show up for court and bench warrants were issued for their arrest:

Leah Christine Petruzzi, 34, Canfield. She is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, soliciting and possession of drugs.

Lavecia C. Reed, no age given, Rochester, N.Y. She is charged with soliciting and possession of criminal tools.

Heather J. Upole, 34, Youngstown. She is charged with soliciting and possession of criminal tools.

Jamie Marie Cunningham, 26, Youngstown. She is charged with soliciting and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Petruzzi and Simmons are also charged with prostitution in Canfield. Canfield police arrested them Friday in connection with a home used for prostitution in that city.

Todd Werth, supervisory special agent of the Violent Crimes Section of the Youngstown Resident Agency of the FBI, said his agency was involved to make sure there were no instances of human trafficking or perpetrators of trafficking. There were not.

Other agencies involved in the investigation were Youngstown and Hubbard police, the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Trumbull-Ashtabula-Geauga Law Enforcement Task Force.