Physical education teacher, ‘Cop of the Month’ made headlines as Long Island pimp for ring running two brothels: DA

A schoolteacher and veteran police officer repeatedly named “Cop of the Month” was revealed to be the pimp in a Long Island prostitution ring that ran two brothels, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Both – Steven Erie, 53, and George Trimgliozzi, 55 – worked as managers at a Holbrook brothel called American Girls Spa, collecting so-called “house fees” from sex workers, hiring prostitutes and johns. Used to post advertisements to woo people. An indictment was unsealed in Suffolk County Court.

Hey, a physical education teacher, worked in Islip for 26 years, while Trimgliozzi served as a Suffolk County Police Department policeman for 18 years, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Trimgliozzi once left his police post in 2021 and flew at about 90 mph to intervene at a Holbrook brothel when a customer was being robbed.

“It is a sad day in law enforcement when a public servant has been arrested,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement.

“The charges in this indictment describe a long-term pattern of organized criminal activity and a shocking betrayal of the public trust.”

A nearly five-year investigation found that Hey and Trimgliozzi worked for a prostitution ring that was run by 60-year-old Frank Saggio, who allegedly had sex workers who could not read or speak English, “leases “, for which he had to pay up to $12,000. His various brothels, prosecutors said.

All suspects appeared Tuesday at the Suffolk County Courthouse along with Sagio’s girlfriend, 32-year-old Dana Ciardullo, to be arraigned on prostitution-related charges.

Prosecutors said Saggio ran several brothel suites at the American Girls Spa along Sunrise Highway, as well as inside a location called Tunnel of Love in West Babylon, which was managed by Ciadullo.

Prosecutors said Sagio faces two counts of sex trafficking, based on allegations that he demanded sex workers pay him a minimum amount of money each month.

Hey and Trimgliozzi pleaded not guilty to 28 and 17 counts, respectively, charged against them in the indictment. Newsday first reported.

According to Newsday, Trimgliozzi was named “Police Officer of the Month” six times, his lawyer said in court.