WHITE PLAINS – A Tompkins Cove man has been charged with two counts of promoting prostitution in the third degree for allegedly arranging vacation packages to the Dominican Republic that included “ companion or companions” during the trip.

An investigator for the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office was monitoring a site dedicated to the New York region on Craigslist, and viewed an advertisement for “Hot and erotic trip to paradise – Don’t miss out!”

The investigator contacted the person responsible for the listing, identified as Jonathan Scharf, 49, and was informed he runs monthly excursions and could provide an all inclusive trip to a “private villa” on the Dominican Republican.

Scharf was arrested Friday and charged for the first time in New York under the broadened promoting prostitution in the third degree statue.

As part of the 2007 Human Trafficking Legislation, the addition to the existing statute was specifically drafted to address the selling of travel related services for purposes of prostitution.

If convicted, he faces up to seven years in state prison.