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Town of Clarkstown and Clarkstown Police Investigate Local Spas Amid Allegations of Unlicensed Massages and Prostitution

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1 year ago

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Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann and Police Chief Jeff Wanamaker announce the Town of Clarkstown and the Clarkstown Police Department have launched an enforcement initiative to crack down on illegal massage parlors operating within the Town. This initiative aims to address violations of local town codes, human trafficking concerns, and illicit activities associated with unlicensed establishments. The town is taking unprecedented action, expanding on the police investigative efforts, by filing actions in the State Supreme Court to seek the permanent closure of these illegal business locations.
Supervisor George Hoehmann stated, “We are committed to ensuring that all businesses in our town operate within the law and uphold the safety and well-being of our residents. Illegal massage parlors often serve as fronts for human trafficking and other illicit activities, and we will not tolerate these operations in our community.”
Beginning in October 2024, the Clarkstown Police Department, through the efforts of our Street Crime Unit, initiated investigations into a number of local businesses that were advertised as spas in the Town of Clarkstown. These investigations stemmed from several concerns raised by local residents regarding possible unlicensed massages and allegations of prostitution occurring within these establishments.
Through diligent efforts and ongoing surveillance, the Clarkstown Police Street Crime Unit was able to identify and apprehend individuals involved in these illicit activities.
As a result, the following individuals were arrested on multiple charges related to their involvement in these operations:
• 51 year old female from Queens, NY—Arrested on two separate dates in October 2024 at Oasis—Happy Spa, 46 Lake Road, Congers
• 59 year old female from Fort Lee, NJ—Arrested in November 2024 at HNS Spa, 159 Route 304, Bardonia
• 58 year old female from Queens, NY—Arrested in November 2024 at HNS Spa, 159 Route 304, Bardonia
• 54 year old female from Forestdale, Massachusetts—Arrested on two separate dates in January 2025 at Oasis Spa, 46 Lake Road, Congers
• 41 year old female from Fort Lee, NJ—Arrested in January 2025 at Nanuet Day Spa, 344 West Route 59, Nanuet
• 45 year old female from Queens, NY—Arrested in February 2025 at Great King Spa, 16 Route 9W, Congers
• 50 year old female from Palisades Park, NJ—Arrested in February 2025 at Maggie Spa, Route 59, Nyack.
All defendants have been issued appearance tickets, with the requirement to return to the Town of Clarkstown Justice Court for further proceedings.
Chief of Police Jeffrey Wanamaker stated, “We would like to extend our gratitude to the community members who brought their concerns to our attention, enabling us to take swift and decisive action. These arrests underscore the vital role of community involvement in identifying and addressing unlawful activities. The Clarkstown Police Department remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents. Our Street Crime Unit will continue its diligent work in investigating and preventing illegal activities, preserving the integrity of local businesses, and protecting our community.”
These recent investigations conducted by the Clarkstown Police Department have uncovered multiple businesses operating without proper licensing and engaging in unlawful activities. As part of this effort, Code Enforcement officers and Town attorneys are also issuing citations, and taking necessary legal actions against non-compliant establishments.
Town Attorneys are in court with the landlords for injunctive relief to immediately shut down the illegal operations and remove them from the premises as they constitute an ongoing public nuisance.
In addition, they will be taken to Clarkstown Justice Court for the following violations of town codes: noncompliance for operating without a certificate of occupancy, license required for the massage license law, public nuisance, and zoning violations as brothels are not permitted.
“We will continue to take action against those who seek to exploit and operate outside the law,” said Supervisor George Hoehmann. Hoehmann praised the town’s aggressive code enforcement operation and police department for their efforts and lauded Clarkstown’s code enforcement strategy as a model for the state.
Residents are encouraged to report suspicious businesses or activities to the Town through its My Clarkstown App or calling the non-emergency police number at 845-639-5800.
The Clarkstown Police Department would like to reiterate that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Pomona Man Arrested After Stolen Vehicle Alert Leads Police to Narcotics Investigation

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7 hours ago

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August 13, 2026

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A stolen vehicle alert led Haverstraw police to a 49-year-old Pomona man who authorities say was found with a large quantity of narcotics.

According to the Haverstraw Police Department, officers were alerted Tuesday, Aug. 11, after a license plate reader notification indicated that a stolen vehicle was entering the Village of Haverstraw.

Police later located the vehicle in Pomona and took the occupant into custody without incident.

The suspect was identified as Diamond Dickerson, 49, of Pomona.

During the investigation, police said Dickerson was found in possession of a large quantity of narcotics.

Dickerson was charged with:

  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree — Narcotic Drug with Intent to Sell, a Class B felony
  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree — Narcotic Drug/Stimulant with Intent to Sell, a Class B felony
  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C felony
  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree with Intent to Sell, a Class D felony
  • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree — Motor Vehicle, a Class E felony
  • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor

Dickerson was transported to the Haverstraw Police Department for processing before being arraigned in West Haverstraw Village Justice Court.

He was remanded to the Rockland County Correctional Facility.

The Haverstraw Police Department said the investigation was conducted with assistance from the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Rockland County Intelligence Center.

The charges are allegations. A criminal complaint is not proof of guilt, and Dickerson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

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Pearl River’s Paula Bohovesky Killer Headed Back to Prison

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8 hours ago

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August 13, 2026

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More than four decades after the murder of 16-year-old Paula Bohovesky, one of the men convicted in her death is headed back to state prison after repeatedly violating parole.

Robert McCain, who was convicted along with Richard LaBarbera in Bohovesky’s 1980 murder, was granted parole in 2021 after spending roughly 40 years behind bars.

Since his release, McCain has returned to custody multiple times. His parole has now been revoked following three violations, according to recent reports.

Murder of Paula Bohovesky

Bohovesky was 16 when she was killed on Oct. 28, 1980, while walking home after working at the Pearl River Public Library.

The Pearl River High School student was attacked and killed in a case that shocked the community and remained in the public spotlight for decades.

McCain and LaBarbera were later convicted of the murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

The two men eventually became eligible for parole after serving decades behind bars.

LaBarbera was released on parole in 2019. McCain was granted parole in 2021, despite opposition from Bohovesky’s family and members of the Pearl River community.

McCain’s Return to Custody

McCain’s release did not mark the end of his involvement with the criminal justice system.

In July 2025, he was arrested following an incident at a park in Cortlandt. He later pleaded guilty to forcible touching and served four months in jail.

He was subsequently involved in another case in Peekskill.

According to authorities, the November 2025 incident involved an attempt to remove a license plate and registration from a parked vehicle. McCain later pleaded guilty to aggravated harassment and petit larceny.

In March 2026, he was sentenced to six months in jail. The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision also imposed a six-month sentence for a parole violation.

His latest parole revocation means McCain will return to state prison. News 12 reported that he is expected to serve approximately 10 additional months, with a projected release date of May 1.

Continued Opposition to His Release

McCain’s parole has been controversial since the beginning.

Bohovesky’s family, community members and local officials had opposed his release and urged the state to keep him incarcerated.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day has also been a vocal critic of the parole decision. Following McCain’s 2025 arrest, Day renewed his criticism of the decision to release him.

The case has also become part of the broader political debate over New York’s parole policies, with critics arguing that the state has been too lenient toward people convicted of serious crimes.

However, parole decisions are made by the New York State Board of Parole, rather than by a political party or Albany lawmakers as a group.

For Pearl River residents who have remembered Bohovesky’s death for more than 45 years, McCain’s return to prison represents another chapter in one of the community’s most painful and enduring cases.

Bohovesky was 16 when her life was cut short. The latest developments surrounding her killer have once again brought her name and the 1980 murder back into public attention.

Photo Courtesy: Senator Weber’s office

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