Long Island police officer George F. Trimigliozzi and schoolteacher Steven Arey charged with managing sex workers, DA says

A Suffolk police officer and a public school teacher have been indicted on charges that they managed sex workers at brothels in Holbrook and West Babylon.

Suffolk Police Officer George F. Trimigliozzi, an 18-year-department veteran, pleaded not guilty to 17 felony counts at his arraignment Tuesday in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, including 13 counts of enterprise corruption, two counts of falsifying business records, filing a false instrument and official misconduct.

Trimigliozzi "collected proceeds" from the sex workers and coordinated their schedules at the Holbrook brothel, which he managed with his co-defendant, Steven Arey, said Assistant Suffolk District Attorney Laura de Oliveira.

"It is a sad day in law enforcement when a public servant is arrested. However, I made a commitment to this County that no one is above the law, and that includes those who are supposed to embody the best of public service," Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said. "The allegations in this indictment describe a long-term pattern of organized criminal activity and a shocking betrayal of public trust."

The district attorney said two other people were also charged in the alleged ring. Frank Saggio, 60 of West Islip and Dana Ciardullo, 32, of North Bellmore, were also charged with enterprise corruption and promoting prostitution. Authorities said Ciardullo was Saggio's girlfriend.

Tierney's office said Saggio was the alleged leader of the enterprise that ran prostitution brothels in two places between Oct. 2019 and June, according to court papers.

All defendants are alleged to have unlawfully promoted prostitution by hiring sex workers, collecting proceeds of prostitution from sex workers known as "house fees," and posting advertisements seeking patrons of prostitution.

The police officer and the teacher allegedly served as managers on Saggio’s behalf at a Sunrise Highway building in Holbrook known as the American Girls Spa "Suite 3." The Sunrise Highway building also contained two additional brothels allegedly managed by Saggio: Spa "Suite 4” and Reiki for Healing "Suite 5."

Authorities said Ciardullo served as the manager at a location in West Babylon known as the Tunnel of Love.

On March 19, 2021, according to de Oliveira, a robbery occurred at the brothel, which is located within the police department's 5th Precinct coverage area. Trimigliozzi "abandoned post" while on duty in the 3rd precinct and drove to the brothel, de Oliveira said.

Trimigliozzi's attorney, William Keahon, noted in court that his client has no criminal record and was named "cop of the month" on six occasions.

Keahon stressed that an indictment is not evidence of any wrongdoing and added: "I would suggest to the court, they're not gonna be able to prove it."

Supreme Court Justice Mazzei set bail at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.

A spokesperson for the police department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Arey, a public school teacher in the Town of Islip, also pleaded not guilty to 28 felony counts, including enterprise corruption and promoting prostitution.

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.