Massapequa Couple Accused of Running International Prostitution Ring

A Massapequa couple has been arrested for running a prostitution ring online that served clients in the U.S. and overseas, federal prosecutors said.

Vincent Lombardo, 44, and his wife, Melissa Lombardo, 43, were arrested Wednesday in Massapequa by New York City Police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Detectives.

According to court papers, the pair was charged with promotion of prostitution and money laundering in relation to a web-bsed prostitution site called "Aphrodite."

Some of the prostitutes advertised on the site allegedly charged rates of several hundred dollars per hour or several thousand dollars per day. 

The couple earned up to 40 percent of the proceeds, according to court papers. 

The Lombardos allegedly used money from the ring to pay for a home in Boca Raton, Fla., according to prosecutors. Their mortgage lists a bank account that uses a Sunrise Highway address in Massapequa. 

An email indicated that a prostitute was recruited "regarding a party in Miami for a group of politicians, lawyers and important businessmen." 

The email further explained, "most of your time will be spent at this dinner, but if they choose to keep you [sic] full 8 hours and would like some intimate time then I couldn't see it being a [n] hour or two at most."

Another email made reference to a businessman from London who was looking for someone to travel with him to South Africa for a week. Prosecutors said that prostitute would be paid $3,000 a day.   

Court papers also reveal that prostitutes were allegedly sent to Israel and Tel Aviv on behalf of Aphrodite.

The couple was expected to be arraigned in Brooklyn Federal Court Thursday.