Man wanted in Monroe prostitution case caught

A Las Vegas man who officials said was directing a prostitution operation in the Poconos was caught by the Indiana State Police on Thursday, after being “on the run” for three weeks.

The Office of the Monroe County District Attorney reported Stephen A. Higgins, 30, is being held in the Hancock County Jail in Indiana, awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania to face charges of involuntary servitude and trafficking of individuals.

His arrest is the result of an investigation headed by Detective Kim Lippincott of the district attorney’s office, who on July 17 acted on text message advertisements for prostitution.

Upon responding to those messages, Lippincott, posing as a 35-year-old man attempting to purchase sex, learned that a 19-year-old woman with whom Higgins was working as her “pimp,” was operating under directives of Higgins out of a Days Inn room he rented for her in Pocono Township.

In a detailed affidavit of probable cause, Lippincott said a male undercover officer went to the room after the sale was arranged with Higgins, and after exchanging money, Lippincott brought additional detectives in to make the arrest.

Lippincott said the woman told them Higgins brought her to Pennsylvania from Cincinnati and maintained control over her through the course of the prostitution operation. The woman said Higgins told her she would make more money in the Poconos and New York and that he would help her “get her kids back.”

Lippincott said after advising the woman of her Miranda rights, she proceeded to provide in-depth details about Higgins’ operation. Police also learned Higgins has been arrested and convicted of other crimes relating to pimping, promoting prostitution and promoting prostitution of a minor in other state.

Police filed the charges in the office of Magisterial District Justice Daniel Kresge of Tannersville and said Higgins will appear before a Monroe County magistrate at a later date.