Oct 3, 2008 7:51 am US/Eastern
Mom, Daughter Busted In Northeast Philly Sex Sting
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
A mother and daughter were arrested during a sex sting in Philadelphia's Wissinoming section Thursday afternoon after allegedly advertising acts of prostitution on the popular online classifieds site Craig's List.
Police said an undercover officer arranged a meeting with the women, who were under police surveillance for three weeks, via the Web site Craig's List. Their business was found under the exotic services section of the site with an ad for "mother and daughter tag team."
The officer met the women, identified as 38 year-old Traci Young and her 22-year-old daughter Tammi Smith, a mother of three, at noon at the home they were renting in the 6100 block of Ditman Street.
Police said Young and Smith invited the officer into the home where the trio allegedly discussed services and agreed on a price tag of $200 to have sex with both women at the same time.
"It's a messed up world out there and we have to do this just to get by," Young told reporters as she was being led out of the home in handcuffs.
Neighbors applauded the arrest saying they were tired of what they witnessed over the summer.
"They would walk around with 'G-strings' and they were in the backyard with no tops," said neighbor Jane Greer.
Chris Plunkett, the women's landlord, said he was not aware of the family business. "It's not good. It's not good, it is disgusting."
Young's boyfriend David Reilly, 27, was also arrested. Police said Reilly drove Young to a store to purchase condoms while the officer waited in the basement. He is facing drug charges.
Smith's young children ages 3, 5 and 7, who were with a babysitter and not home at the time of the bust, have been placed into the custody D.H.S.
"You always hear that prostitution is a victimless crime, well you see these neighbors, you see how upset they are," said Lt. Charles Green. "A victimless crime, look at those three kids going down to D.H.S., you tell me they're not victims?"
The home has been deemed inhabitable by the Department of Licenses and Inspections.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
