Convicted 'john' sentenced to five days in jail

A Queens man was sentenced Friday to 5 days in jail for patronizing a prostitute, who was actually an undercover Nassau County police officer.

Judge Rhonda Fischer in First District Court in Hempstead also imposed a $500 fine.

Andre White, 47, of Rosedale, was freed within an hour, however, after receiving credit for jail time after his arrest and good behavior, and because of county jail policies that don't allow prisoner releases on weekends.

White, who faced up to a year in jail, agreed to the 5-day sentence in a plea bargain with the judge in February.

Shams Tarek, a spokesman for District Attorney Kathleen Rice, said prosecutors had recommended 90 days in jail.

White's attorney, Dominic Errichiello of Carle Place, declined to comment after the sentencing.

White was one of 104 men arrested last year as part of the "Flush the Johns" anti-prostitution sting that for the first time in Nassau County targeted people who solicit prostitutes instead of the prostitutes.

Court papers show White was arrested at 8:35 p.m. May 14 after he paid $60 to an undercover officer in a hotel room in Carle Place.

He is the second defendant to be sentenced to jail, Tarek said. Paul Lee, 24, of Plainview pleaded guilty Aug. 22 and received a 30-day sentence.

Sixteen defendants have pleaded guilty so far. Two were acquitted after bench trials.

Most of those convicted were fined several hundred dollars or given a conditional discharge.

Vadim Cruchinin, 40, of Queens Village, was the only defendant to be convicted after trial. Judge Sharon Gianelli of First District Court found him guilty and imposed a $300 fine at his March 11 sentencing. Rice's office said prosecutors recommended 100 hours of community service.

One case was dismissed with the consent of prosecutors, and another was dismissed by a judge in the interest of justice. The remaining cases are pending.