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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — The advertisement read, “Paris is back and looking for some fun.”
The fun was short lived when state police Organized Crime Unit and agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security arrested Jovel A. Primus, 25, of Pocono Summit, and Sierra Dawn Schmitt, 19, of Brooklyn, New York, on charges of prostitution and related offenses.
State police busted the pair Wednesday night at a motel on Schecter Drive.
Arrest papers allege Primus rented the room for Schmitt, who used the name “Paris,” to perform sexual acts for cash.
Primus was charged with two counts of promoting prostitution and a single count of corruption of minors and Schmitt was charged with prostitution, corruption of minors and possession of drug paraphernalia. Primus and Schmitt were arraigned Thursday and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $35,000 and $2,000 bail, respectively.
State police allege Primus placed the advertisement “Paris is back and looking for some fun” on backpage.com, an internet based advertisement site, focusing on the Scranton area under adult entertainment and escort services. The advertisement was time stamped at 7:01 p.m. Wednesday.
About two hours after the advertisement first appeared, agents busted the lewd behavior.
According to the criminal complaints:
An undercover trooper called a phone number with the advertisement and spoke with “Paris,” identified as Schmitt.
Schmitt told the trooper it would be $80 for a short stay and $150 for one hour, and instructed the trooper to bring “protection,” meaning a condom. The trooper was advised to go to a specific room at the motel, the complaints say.
When the trooper arrived, Schmitt repeated the prices and had the trooper count the money, which was placed on a table with a condom.
Schmitt was arrested after she removed her clothes, the complaints say.
Schmitt allegedly admitted she is a prostitute and identified Primus as her pimp, who drove her from New York City to the motel to engage in sex acts with customers for cash. She was aware the advertisement was posted on the internet, according to the complaints.
State police said in the complaints Primus used a credit card to rent the motel room.
Schmitt has a tattoo of “Paris” across her upper chest, the complaint says.
A 15-year-old girl and two adults, who have not been charged, were detained when they were seen leaving the motel room before the trooper entered.