Former NYPD vice detective Ludwig Paz and his wife plead guilty to running multi-million dollar chain of NYC brothels and gambling rooms while offering crooked cops discounted rates with prostitutes in exchange for ‘looking out’
Former NYPD Vice Detective Ludwig Paz, 51, and his wife Arelis Peralta, 43, pled guilty to running a prostitution and gambling ring that netted $2 million per year, on Wednesday
The couple from Queens operated brothels throughout New York and set up gambling rooms inside beauty parlors and other businesses
Seven active duty officers are accused of alerting Paz to raids and giving him tip-offs
One of them, Rene Samaniego, pled guilty and faces up to six years in jail
Paz and Peralta used the proceeds of the operation to fund a lavish lifestyle over the last several years, which they chronicled on social media
Paz is expected to be sentenced four to 12 years in prison. Setencing is scheduled for June 27
After pleading guilty to attempted enterprise corruption, Arelis Parelta was immediately sentenced to 364 days in jail
Paz’s daughters, Jarelis Guzman, 22 and Arisbel Guzman, 20, were also charged
Arisbel has pled not guilty to charges of conspiracy and felony enterprise corruption – Both were released without bail
NYPD vice detective Ludwig Paz, 51, [left], and wife Arelis Peralta, 43, [right], both pled guilty to running a prostitution and gambling ring that netted millions annually
Former NYPD detective ludwig Paz and his wife both pled guilty to masterminding a multimillion-dollar prostitution and gambling ring with the help of seven current police officers.
Arelis Peralta and Ludwig Paz used the cash to fund a lavish lifestyle – Paz and Parelta authorities said the couple made $2million from their vice ring in about a year. They are seen here while on a tropical vacation
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They are said to have run seven of eight brothels between September 2016 and 2017.
The arrested officers are accused of helping Paz operate the illicit businesses by providing confidential information, including the timing of raids and undercover operations.
They gave him enough information to foil raids and undercover busts, in exchange for cash or discounted encounters with his prostitutes, according to prosecutors.
After the pleas Queens District Attorney John Ryan told the New York Post: ‘I want to commend the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau and members of this office’s Organized Crime and Rackets and Integrity Bureaus for their hard work and dedication in closing down the defendant’s illegal businesses.’
The arrested officers are accused of helping Paz operate the illicit businesses by providing confidential information, including the timing of raids and undercover operations.
They gave him enough information to foil raids and undercover busts, in exchange for cash or discounted encounters with his prostitutes, according to prosecutors.
After the pleas Queens District Attorney John Ryan told the New York Post: ‘I want to commend the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau and members of this office’s Organized Crime and Rackets and Integrity Bureaus for their hard work and dedication in closing down the defendant’s illegal businesses.’
According to police, Arelis Peralta [L-R] and her husband former detective Ludwig Paz, also operated illegal lottery and betting services out of beauty salons
Ludwig Paz, [left], pled guilty to attempted enterprise corruption and promoting prostitution. His wife Arelis Peralta, [right], pled guilty to attempted enterprise corruption and was immediately sentenced to 364 days in jail
The 2-year-long investigation led to over 40 civilians being charged in connection with the case. One defendant is seen leaving Queens Supreme Court last year. The women with their heads covered are children of Ludwig Paz
Paz’s children seen [photo], leaving court with with jackets covering their faces. were also charged
Paz’s daughters, Jarelis Guzman, 22 and Arisbel Guzman, 20, were released without bail
Peralta [left] helped her husband, Paz, [right], with the day-to-day operations, and led a gambling ring that ran illegal lotteries at several legitimate businesses
Sgt. Giancarlo Raspanti [left] and Vice detective Rene Samaniego [right], appear in court in Queens, NY last year Sept charged with assisting and operating a prostitution ring for a year beginning 2016 Semaniego pled guilty earlier this month to passing the couple information on police procedures
Sgts. Carlos Cruz [left] and Louis Failla [right], appear in court in Queens in Sept, to face charges of operating brothels
Sgt. Cliff Nieves [left] and his brother Sgt. Steven Nieves [right], both were charged in the investigation
NYPD officer Giovanny Rojas, [photo], is also facing charges in the investigation
He had at least one child with his first wife Sonia when in 2007, she sued him for divorce, court records show.
Paz retired from the NYPD in 2010, and it’s not clear when he remarried Arelis Peralta.
Police were first tipped off to the criminal enterprise in 2015, when someone on the force alerted investigators they suspected that someone involved in illegal activities was in conversations with an insider in the Vice Enforcement Division.
The investigation moved slowly due to the need for absolute secrecy, to prevent corrupt cops from finding out that the operation was under scrutiny.
Peralta’s two adult daughters, who lived with the couple in Ozone Park, were also arrested in the probe.
The daughters, Jarelis Guzman, 22 and Arisbel Guzman, 20, were released without bail.
Court records show Arisbel has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and felony enterprise corruption.
Back in September, neighbors said that Peralta and her daughters always had designer clothes and carried designer handbags.
‘They had these expensive cars — SUVs and Mercedes — the kids were parking all over the place, blocking driveways,’ one neighbor said.
The luxury cars grew so numerous that neighbors complained there was nowhere left to part on the block.
Paz retired from the NYPD in 2010, and it’s not clear when he remarried Arelis Peralta.
Police were first tipped off to the criminal enterprise in 2015, when someone on the force alerted investigators they suspected that someone involved in illegal activities was in conversations with an insider in the Vice Enforcement Division.
The investigation moved slowly due to the need for absolute secrecy, to prevent corrupt cops from finding out that the operation was under scrutiny.
Peralta’s two adult daughters, who lived with the couple in Ozone Park, were also arrested in the probe.
The daughters, Jarelis Guzman, 22 and Arisbel Guzman, 20, were released without bail.
Court records show Arisbel has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and felony enterprise corruption.
Back in September, neighbors said that Peralta and her daughters always had designer clothes and carried designer handbags.
‘They had these expensive cars — SUVs and Mercedes — the kids were parking all over the place, blocking driveways,’ one neighbor said.
The luxury cars grew so numerous that neighbors complained there was nowhere left to part on the block.
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