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Sting operation results in prostitution arrests: Case raises eyebrows in East Aurora
Mar 12, 2010 (The Buffalo News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
A former teacher's aide in a suburban school district and a woman with a history of financial trouble are at the center of an Internet prostitution sting by East Aurora police, according to authorities.
Cynthia L. Betschen, 55, of Lapham Road, Town of Aurora, is accused of setting up a meeting through an Internet escort service's Web site to engage in prostitution for $300. The customer, however, was an undercover police detective.
Betschen was arrested Feb. 16 on a single misdemeanor count of prostitution and remains free on her own recognizance pending a court date Wednesday, authorities said.
Betschen, known formerly as Cynthia Zucarelli, of Depew, was a teacher's aide in the Lancaster Central School District as recently as 2006, according to records. She no longer works in education, however, according to her attorney, Thomas J. Eoannou.
Eoannou downplayed media attention in the case, calling the incident "much ado about nothing" and "a misdemeanor prostitution arrest." Eoannou said he expects to meet with prosecutors Wednesday to review the merits of the case.
Also arrested in the East Aurora Police undercover sting was Bonakham Onsa, 42, of Oakwood Avenue, East Aurora, who also has addresses listed in Machias and Franklinville. Onsa, who is also known as Bonakham Glosser, was arrested March 3 also on a single misdemeanor prostitution charge and was also released. The two women, according to reports, did not know each other.
According to public records, Onsa filed for bankruptcy in June 2008.
East Aurora police launched an investigation after learning about the women on a Web site advertising escort services. On that site, both described sexual services for which they charged $300 an hour, $1,000 a day and $2,000 for an overnight session, according to police.
The women worked out of their homes, police said, or arranged to meet clients elsewhere.
Details of Onsa's arrest were not known. Police also seized sexual paraphernalia.
The case is the talk of residents of this largely upscale community. Most dispute claims of one TV station that prostitution "is alive and well in East Aurora."
"That's hogwash," said Patrick F. McDonnell, village trustee. "It's not a joke, but people are just kind of laughing it off. I think people see through it.
"It's an unusual circumstance. It's an abnormality in East Aurora."
Trustee Allan A. Kasprzak, who is also a Buffalo police officer, agreed and offered a personal perspective.
"I was just out walking the dog," Kasprzak said. "I haven't seen one lady of the night."
Fellow trustee and Buffalo Police Officer Kevin T. Biggs said he doesn't like the idea of it, but prostitution may well be "alive and well" nationwide, with the proliferation of personal computers and the Internet.
"Computers and technology have made it easier for people to get away with this stuff everywhere," said Biggs, adding that Betschen and Onsa didn't get away with it for very long in East Aurora, thanks to the work of Detective Richard Daminski and others.
"I'm 100 percent convinced we have one of the best police departments in Western New York. They jumped right on this tip and took care of the problem," Biggs said.
East Aurora is not the only upscale community that may be hosting prostitution. Thursday, state police arrested a Clarence man and Buffalo woman in Clarence. Michelle R. Edwards, 44, of Curtis Street, was charged with prostitution and false personation along with a Buffalo warrant for drug possession. Archie P. Tobias Jr., no age listed, of Main Street in Clarence, was charged with patronizing a prostitute.
Troopers had been called to the Three Crown Motel at 10220 Main St. at about 9:45 a. m. for a disturbance there, police said.
News Staff Reporter Janice L. Habuda contributed to this report. tpignataro@buffnews.com
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