Home invasion robbery leads to brothel charges, cops say

Southampton Town Police said they charged a Riverside man Saturday night with running a brothel after he was attacked during a home invasion robbery at a Riverside house.

Police were called to the house at 131 Old Quogue Rd., Riverside, about 6:20 p.m. Saturday where several people reported they had been tied up and robbed by men armed with guns and machetes, Southampton Det. Sgt. Lisa Costa said in a written statement.

Christian R. Perez-Garcia, 29, a resident of the house, told police that the assailants tied him up with rope and stole $3,500 in cash. Several other people were tied up as well, and the bandits stole their phones and wallets, police said. Two people who were tied up had to be hospitalized for knife wounds incurred during the attack, police said.

Southampton and New York State Police are still searching for the suspects in the home invasion robbery and several men who were customers at the brothel who fled before police arrived, Costa said.

Garcia was charged with felony promotion of prostitution. He was to be arraigned Sunday at Southampton Justice Court.

Police also arrested Luz Espinal, 34, of Brooklyn, and Yasmin Paniagua, 40, of the Bronx, who were both charged with misdemeanor prostitution. They were released with an order to return to court later this month.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Southampton police at 631-702-2230.