Staten Island- Eleven down, seven to go.
That's prosecutors' scorecard after two more defendants admitted yesterday they helped run an alleged multimillion-dollar prostitution ring based on Staten Island.
Norman Greenblatt, 67, of New Springville, and Karen J. Kelly, 40, of Brooklyn, each pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to promoting prostitution in the third degree.
They bring to 11 the number of defendants who have cut deals in the case.
Eighteen suspects were arrested in April and charged with operating a prostitution racket disguised as an escort service and other business fronts. Eight of the suspects, including the alleged ringleader, Frank Farella, 44, of Richmond, are Staten Islanders.
Farella has denied guilt and has thus far refused a plea deal.
Under the agreements, Greenblatt will receive five years' probation. Ms. Kelly's sentence will be capped at six months in jail and five years' probation. Sentencing is set for Sept. 30.
Robert DePalma is Greenblatt's lawyer; Mark J. Fonte represents Ms. Kelly.
State Assistant Deputy Attorney General Amy L. Cohn is prosecuting the case.
DRUG PLEA
A borough woman is headed to prison for up to seven years after cutting a plea deal yesterday on drug charges.
Monique Arrindell, 23, formerly of New Springville, admitted she sold cocaine to an undercover officer on May 13. The deal took place on Westbrook Avenue and Melyn Place in Graniteville, court records stated.
The defendant pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
Under the agreement, she will be sentenced on Aug. 16 to two and one-third to seven years behind bars.
The term will run concurrently with another sentence the defendant will receive for a drug-possession conviction. That guilty plea stems from a Nov. 29 incident.
Fonte is Ms. Arrindell's lawyer. Assistant District Attorney Raja Rajeswari is prosecuting the case.
