WEST BABYLON, NY – A Suffolk County police officer and two accomplices have pleaded guilty to operating a long-running prostitution enterprise that involved multiple brothels in Holbrook and West Babylon.
According to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney’s office, the operation was led by Frank Saggio, 61, of West Islip, who managed the enterprise between October 2019 and June 2024. Prosecutors said Saggio collected thousands of dollars in monthly fees from sex workers at two locations: a Holbrook strip mall on Sunrise Highway with three storefronts disguised as spas and Reiki services, and a West Babylon business called the Tunnel of Love.
The Defendants and Their Roles
- Frank Saggio admitted to running the prostitution business and employing others as managers. He required workers to pay between $6,000 and $12,000 in fees to participate. On September 12, 2025, he pleaded guilty to Enterprise Corruption, a felony, and agreed to forfeit nearly $1.9 million. He faces a sentence of two to six years in prison and is scheduled to return to court on December 18.
- George Trimigliozzi, 56, of Islip, an 18-year veteran of the Suffolk County Police Department, worked as co-manager of the Holbrook operation alongside Steven Arey, a longtime Islip School District employee whose case is still pending. Trimigliozzi also admitted to abandoning his police duties in 2021 to respond to a robbery at one of the brothels, speeding nearly 90 mph in his patrol car to get there. In a separate case, he pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment after detaining a woman in his personal vehicle. He faces a total of two years and 30 days in jail, with sentencing set for November 12. He remains suspended without pay.
- Dana Ciardullo, 33, of North Bellmore, Saggio’s girlfriend, managed the West Babylon brothel. She pleaded guilty to Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree and will be sentenced to six months in jail followed by five years of probation. Her sentencing is also scheduled for November 12.
Co-Defendant Still Facing Charges
- Steven Arey, 26-year employee of the Islip School District, was indicted on Enterprise Corruption and 27 counts of Promoting Prostitution. His case is pending trial.
Case Background
Prosecutors said the case illustrates the scope of corruption, noting that the enterprise ran for nearly five years before authorities shut it down. Investigators with the District Attorney’s Public Corruption Squad handled the case, and it was prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Laura de Oliveira and Bureau Chief Kevin Ward.
Mafia Connection: What’s Known
- Frank Saggio has publicly described himself as an “associate” of New York’s Mafia (one of the “Five Families”).
- Prosecutors in Suffolk County have cited a mafia status in filings, arguing that Saggio used proceeds from the prostitution enterprise to buy real estate, including a Fire Island beach house, through shell companies. They claim those purchases are part of a money-laundering scheme.
- In one motion, Saggio is referred to as a “self-proclaimed mafia associate.”
Snapshot Box: Suffolk County Brothel Case
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Defendants | Frank Saggio (61, West Islip), George Trimigliozzi (56, Islip), Dana Ciardullo (33, North Bellmore) |
| Enterprise Period | October 2019 – June 2024 |
| Locations | Holbrook (6089 Sunrise Hwy: American Girls Spa, Spa, Reiki for Healing) and West Babylon (Tunnel of Love) |
| Charges | Enterprise Corruption, Promoting Prostitution, Official Misconduct, Unlawful Imprisonment |
| Saggio’s Plea | Enterprise Corruption; forfeiture of $1.875M; 2–6 years prison |
| Trimigliozzi’s Plea | Promoting Prostitution, Official Misconduct, Unlawful Imprisonment; 2 years + 30 days jail |
| Ciardullo’s Plea | Promoting Prostitution; 6 months jail + 5 years probation |
| Pending Case | Co-defendant Steven Arey (Islip School District employee) faces Enterprise Corruption and 27 counts of Promoting Prostitution |
| Sentencing Dates | Nov. 12, 2025 (Trimigliozzi & Ciardullo) / Dec. 18, 2025 (Saggio) |
Q&A: Suffolk County Brothel Case
Q: Who were the main defendants in this case?
A: Frank Saggio, George Trimigliozzi (a Suffolk County police officer), and Dana Ciardullo.
Q: What were they accused of doing?
A: Running two brothels in Suffolk County—one in Holbrook and another in West Babylon—over nearly five years.
Q: How did the operation work?
A: Sex workers paid monthly fees ranging from $6,000 to $12,000 to operate out of the brothels, which were disguised as spas and a “Reiki for Healing” business.
Q: What charges did they plead guilty to?
A: Enterprise Corruption, Promoting Prostitution, Official Misconduct, and Unlawful Imprisonment (in Trimigliozzi’s case).
Q: What penalties will they face?
- Saggio: 2–6 years in prison plus $1.875 million forfeiture
- Trimigliozzi: 2 years + 30 days in jail
- Ciardullo: 6 months in jail + 5 years probation
Q: What happened with the police officer, George Trimigliozzi?
A: He abandoned his police duties to respond to a robbery at one of the brothels and also unlawfully detained a woman in his personal car. He is suspended without pay.
Q: Does Frank Saggio have Mafia ties?
A: Prosecutors and media reports have described him as a “self-proclaimed mob associate.” He has even written a memoir claiming connections to organized crime. However, no court documents have identified him as a formal member of any Mafia family.
Q: Which Mafia family is he linked to?
A: Saggio has suggested he worked with figures connected to multiple families, but law enforcement has not confirmed ties to any specific one of New York’s Five Families. His alleged mob involvement remains more a matter of reputation and self-description than official record.
Q: Is anyone else charged in the case?
A: Yes, Steven Arey, a longtime Islip School District employee, faces charges of Enterprise Corruption and 27 counts of Promoting Prostitution. His case is still pending.
Q: When are the sentencing dates?
A: Trimigliozzi and Ciardullo are scheduled for November 12, 2025. Saggio’s sentencing is set for December 18, 2025.
