Neighbors say they warned each other for years before alleged Islip Terrace brothel bust
Detectives found online ads and message boards indicating the woman had been operating the brothel since at least 2012.
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A 67-year-old woman is accused of operating a brothel out of an Islip Terrace home for more than a decade, according to Suffolk County police.
Police say Helen Mantell ran the operation from a home on Cedarwood Street since at least 2012. Investigators allege she advertised online using the name “Phyllis.”
The home, which appears visibly unkempt compared with neighboring properties, has long been the subject of rumors and concerns among residents.
News 12 knocked on the door Tuesday, but no one answered. Several people walking by warned against approaching the house, while neighbors said they had been aware of the alleged activity for years.
Anthony Rizzo, who said he performed yard work at the home in 2005, said he stopped taking jobs there after hearing concerns from neighbors.
“I had a guy parking here. I had a guy parking there,” Rizzo said. “I used to come out and be like, ‘Yo, leave. What are you doing here?’ I used to run out and try to control it. That’s when it was bad. It looks like the neighborhood is getting cleaned up and we can finally move on from this.”
Mantell was issued a desk appearance ticket and charged with prostitution.
News 12 has reached out to Suffolk County police for additional information about the alleged long-running operation, particularly following a separate brothel bust in Sayville earlier this year, but has not received a response.
Police ask anyone with information about the case to contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers.
