Husband, wife among suspects arrested in prostitution sting

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

ALBANY — An Albany County prostitution bust netted eight people this week, including a husband and wife from Gloversville.

The husband was accused of prostituting his wife, even requesting to photograph the acts, officials said.

The Albany County Sheriff’s Department set up the sting for Wednesday, off ads posted on the Craigslist online classified site.

Sheriff’s Inspector John Burke cited the sting’s results in arguing that claimed efforts by Craigslist to eliminate such ads are failing.

“We got eight different people in the course of six hours,” Burke said. “Tell me Craigslist isn’t flourishing.”

Among those arrested Wednesday were husband and wife Donald R. Mureness, 45, and Stacia L. Mureness, 30, both of 55 Fourth Ave., Gloversville.

The two are accused of posting an ad on Craigslist offering Stacia Mureness’ services for sex, Burke said.

In return, Burke said, they asked for $200. Donald Mureness also requested to be present when the sexual acts were performed and to photograph them.

Donald Mureness was charged with promoting prostitution, Stacia Mureness with prostitution. The couple have five children, Burke said. Burke believed the children were with a babysitter at the time.

The sting was conducted with sheriff’s investigators posting as johns, using Craigslist to contact the women. They were told to go to hotels in Guilderland and Colonie to meet with the prospective clients. Some responded within an hour, Burke said.

Fees ranged from $100 to $350.

Burke noted that Craigslist vowed to tighten the ad screening process to weed out illegal prostitution from the site following the killing of a call girl in Massachusetts who advertised on Craigslist.

Craigslist includes posted guidelines for ads, saying the site should be used only for legal services. Suggesting or implying sexual favors for money, including code words or spelling variations, would result in ad removal without refunds, the site reads. Identities of posters could also be supplied to law enforcement by subpoena.

But Burke said posts remain out in the open, largely unchallenged. Similar stings were expected in the future.

Officials with the site could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Others charged Wednesday were:

u Tykesha Draughn, 28, of New Haven, Conn., for prostitution, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, marijuana possession

u Kara J. Schissler, 23, of 32 Steers Ave., Schenectady, prostitution

u Cassandra Keating, 21, of 24 Limerick Dr., Albany, prostitution

u Shylissia A. Byaum, 18, of 411 Victory Ave., Schenectady, prostitution

u Stephanie D. Jones, 23, of 332 First Ave., Watervliet, prostitution

u Ebonie M. Buckles, 21, of 26 Washington Ave., Cohoes, prostitution