Craigslist prostitution operation in Jefferson

JEFFERSON -- A six-month investigation snared a township resident and a Scotch Plains woman for soliciting prostitution at 3 Willis St., police said Friday.
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Detective Joseph Kratzel on Thursday arrested Kathy Ingraham, 45, of Scotch Plains, and Kimberly Vaughn, 44, of Jefferson, Lt. Eric Wilsusen said. Vaughn has already pleaded guilty and has been sentenced.

Police were tipped off about large numbers of vehicles coming and going from the dead-end street home on a daily basis, Kratzel said.

"It's very easy to see 15 to 20 cars coming out there a day," he said.

Police received numerous CrimeStoppers tips and also discovered online Craigslist postings that offered prostitution services at the home, rented by Vaughn.

"It almost shocked me how blatant it was, it was unreal," Kratzel said, adding that new listings were posted every morning -- including the day of arrest -- and offered, among other things, the services of two attractive mothers "who want to wrap their legs around you."

Morristown police loaned Jefferson authorities an undercover detective who visited the Willis Street house Thursday in an attempt to solicit the advertised services.

The operation was successful and the women, who went by Gina (Vaughn) and Kitty (Ingraham), were arrested, Kratzel said.

Ingraham was issued a summons for engaging in prostitution and released pending a municipal court date, police said.

Vaughn was charged with engaging in prostitution, hindering apprehension by providing a false name, and possession of marijuana, police said. A records check found that Vaughn was wanted in Florida on outstanding warrants.

Vaughn, on the same day she was arrested, was arraigned in Jefferson municipal court that evening and pleaded guilty to all the charges and was sentenced to six months in jail by Judge William Bowkley, Kratzel said. She was taken to the Morris County jail, where she will serve her time until she eventually is extradited to Florida on the warrants.

"It was the fist time in my career that I ever arrested someone and within two hours they were tried, convicted and sentenced," Kratzel said.

pat...if we know about this operation earlier...we should have arranged an adventure with them.

LionelTrainGuy wrote: pat...if we know about this operation earlier...we should have arranged an adventure with them.

I don't think they would have honored your AARP card.

Beyond the Black wrote:

I don't think they would have honored your AARP card.

lol: