Club 35 in Sayreville, New Jersey, has been at the center of a major investigation into an alleged family-operated prostitution ring. A state grand jury has returned a 21-count superseding indictment against seven individuals and three corporate entities following the investigation.
State Attorney General Matthew Platkin revealed that the strip club, located on Route 35, was also functioning as a house of prostitution, generating millions of dollars in revenue. During a search of the club, computer hard drives were seized, containing hours of video surveillance footage showing dancers engaging in sexual acts with patrons in the VIP rooms.
Additional evidence seized from the club included hundreds of condoms, lubricant, and sex toys. A large bag containing approximately 700 condoms was found, and a vending machine in the club’s locker room was stocked with condoms for dancers to purchase.
According to Platkin, customers paid a fee to enter the VIP area for private dances, with the option to pay additional fees directly to dancers for sexual activities. The proceeds from these activities were funneled through various bank accounts controlled by the defendants in order to conceal the source of the funds.
The investigation also revealed that the defendants established corporate entities to hide the true sources of the money and make the funds appear as if they were derived from lawful business dealings. The indictment alleges that the club illegally sold alcohol on the premises, despite state regulations prohibiting such practices.
The defendants face a range of charges, including racketeering, conspiracy, promoting prostitution, financial facilitation of criminal activity, and filing fraudulent tax returns. Some of the defendants were arrested in May 2021 following the execution of search warrants at Club 35. The investigation also led to the seizure of significant amounts of cash, gold, and silver from the defendants’ residences.
Attorney Jeffrey Bronster, who represents five members of the Acciardi family that owns Club 35, criticized the handling of the investigation and prosecution by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
The state grand jury’s indictment signifies a significant development in the case, with the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability taking over the prosecution. The investigation into the alleged prostitution ring at Club 35 highlights the extent of the illegal activities taking place at the establishment and the efforts made to conceal them.
The defendants will now face the legal consequences of their alleged involvement in the operation of the prostitution ring.
