Catherine Scalia, NY hot dog vendor, charged with prostitution after allegedly using her truck to solicit clients
(CBS/WCBS) NEW YORK - Police in Nassau County have arrested 45-year-old Catherine Scalia after detectives say she was offering up more than kraut and relish from her roadside hot dog truck.
Scalia, of East Rockaway, was arrested Thursday after authorities said she offered to engage in sexual conduct at her home with an undercover detective in return for money.
The undercover cop bought two hot dogs from her truck parked near Sunrise Highway in Baldwin, N.Y. The cop also noticed suggestive business cards offering services you don't usually get from a food vendor, CBS New York reported.
According to officials, Scalia would inform customers to respond to her home where she would perform assorted sexual acts in exchange for money.
"The agreed amount was about $100 and then to further engage in an additional sex act -- it was another $50," said Nassau County Detective Lt. Kevin Smith told CBS New York.
Authorities said she would drum up business and bring clients back to her home in East Rockaway. Neighbors said they're not shocked by the prostitution arrest.
"She was leaving little cards around CVS for naked house cleaning, topless house cleaning," one neighbor told CBS New York.
The hot dog truck now sits in the driveway of the home that neighbors said Scalia grew up in and where she raised triplets who are now teenagers.
Scalia pleaded not guilty to a prostitution charge and is being held on $2,000 bail. According to the New York Post, she was arrested for the same crime eight years ago which also involved using a hot dog truck.