April 15, 2019 By Meghan Sackman
An East Elmhurst man was charged last week in connection with multiple sales of narcotics and the operation of two brothels–one in Elmhurst and the other in Woodside, according to federal authorities.
Carlos Medina Palomino, 30, was indicted Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court on multiple counts of the criminal sale of a controlled substance and one count of promoting prostitution. He was arrested by police while trying to escape from a first floor window of an Elmhurst building, at 94-66 45th Ave., where he was allegedly operating a brothel.
The arrest came after a months-long investigation involving an undercover narcotics officer who acted as a customer and bought cocaine from Palomino.
Palomino allegedly sold narcotics to the undercover officer three times at his Woodside brothel, located at 43-22 58th St., between Feb. 27, 2019, and April 2, 2019. This included 250 grams of cocaine, which has a street value of about $9,800, according to the indictment.
Palomino also offered the undercover officer at his Elmhurst brothel a sample of what he said was heroin. However, after lab testing, the substance turned out to be a mixture of cocaine and the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
The defendant allegedly asked the undercover officer for help in moving kilograms of narcotics from Colombia to either the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico, and also discussed prostitution and his plan to “extradite” women from Colombia to work in his brothels. He also offered the undercover officer a complimentary sexual encounter with a sex worker.
Investigators and agents conducted court authorized searches at both alleged brothel locations as well as Medina Palomino’s home, located at 91-19 32nd Ave., and seized about 350 grams of narcotics and $6,000 in cash.
The defendant was arraigned on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty. He was remanded in custody. Palomino’s next court date is scheduled for April 25.
6 Comments
Where is AOC and Ramos??? weren’t they handing out flyers regarding police surveillance?? Guess this man wasn’t paying attention??
Agreed, congress members should comment one every crime that happens in Queens
Where are the brothel’s located?
(asking for a friend)
Landlords loves having brothels in their house, they’re good tenants for two reasons :
1 ) They pay the rent on time.
2 ) They don’t complain.
Sad but true.
They are good tenants
94-66 45Ave – the 110pct is just a few blocks away , these criminals are bold