The wife of a Westchester lawyer who worked as a madam at a Manhattan brothel was busted yesterday for promoting prostitution.
Hilda Mello, 62, pled not guilty at her arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court tonight before Judge Abraham Clott and was later released on $15,000 bond.
“The defendant has been running a house of prostitution,” said prosecutor Emily Ching as she pushed for $30,000 bond. “Four individuals were offered for prostitution and this defendant was the primary person to engage meetings.”
Mello met an undercover cop posing as a john on East 52nd Street and took him to nearby 990 2nd Avenue where she introduced him to a girl named “Kyle” who offered an hour of sex for $140.
“When I arrived at the location, I observed ‘Kyle’ laying naked on a bed,” the undercover states in court papers.
Mello was busted along with four hookers who worked at the location.
Kyle, whose real name is Wanda Nemes, was arrested along with Gloria Varela, Andy Mejia and Rafaelina Acosta.
A john who was charged with soliciting prostitution was told he could have sex with any of the women for $280 an hour, according to court papers.
The hookers were arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court and released on their recognizance.
“This is a garden variety prostitution matter, it’s a crime that’s been around since the dark ages,” said Mello’s defense lawyer.