
NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Prosecutors indicted seven individuals and three corporate entities on charges of racketeering and other related offenses following an investigation of an alleged family-run brothel at XXXV Gentlemen’s Club, or Club 35, in Sayreville, the New Jersey District Attorney’s Office said.
“Our investigation determined that the operators of Club XXXV were using various illegal means to turn their club into a multimillion-dollar racket,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin. “We allege that these defendants enriched themselves unlawfully, masked the illicit sources of their income, and generated a host of quality-of-life issues for the residents of their community.”
According to officials, the investigation into the strip club uncovered its underground function as a prostitution ring that generated millions of dollars in revenue for the defendants.
Police recovered $720,000 cash and hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold and silver from the homes of the owners of Club 35, the district attorney’s office said.
This revenue moved through a multitude of bank accounts owned by the defendants, and allegedly established corporate enterprises, to conceal its origin, authorities said.
Charges are being brought against four owners/managers of Club 35, located on Route 35: Anthony Acciardi Sr., Doreen Acciardi and Stephen Acciardi of Freehold Township and Anthony Acciardi Jr., of Old Bridge.
Two managers of the club, Jeannine Nichols (the sister of Doreen Acciardi) and her husband, Jason Portes, were indicted on similar charges.
One dancer, Jennifer Hecker, of Parlin, is being charged for tax crimes and allegedly soliciting undercover detectives for sex acts.
Finally, three corporate entities were indicted on charges of racketeering, promoting prostitution, conspiracy and other offenses: Acciboys, LLC, 35 Club, LLC, d/b/a Club XXXV and Alana, Inc.
The defendants were also indicted on tax charges based on alleged under-reported income on state tax returns in an effort to evade taxes and allegedly hide criminal activity, officials said.
In addition to the cash and gold found at the owners’ homes, executed search warrants at the club also yielded hundreds of condoms, lubricant and sex toys, as well as a condom vending machine, the district attorney’s office said.
Computer harddrives were also recovered that had security footage from the club’s VIP lounge showing dancers performing sex acts on patrons.
The investigation was run alongside the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA).
“Law enforcement will not look the other way when a business crosses one line after another, in pursuit of obscene and ill-gotten profits,” Thomas Eicher, Executive Director of OPIA, said.
It was not disclosed when the defendants are expected to return to court.