MTA Employee Ran Brothel Out Of Brooklyn Apartment, DA Says

BROOKLYN, NY — A New York City Transit employee is accused of running a brothel out of his Brooklyn apartment, prosecutors said.

David Blakis, 46, of Greenpoint, walked into a Brooklyn courtroom Friday, facing a pair of criminal charges.

The MTA employee, accused of running a brothel out of his apartment at 1083 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, was indicted on prostitution charges.

"The alleged illegal brothel that the defendant was operating in a residential building caused numerous disruptions for tenants concerned about their well-being," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "I am committed to responding to complaints from neighbors concerned about maintaining their quality of life and safety."

Blakis first came under the city's scrutiny in February 2023, when a resident called the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit and complained about a brothel being run out of the 1083 Manhattan Avenue apartment, according to officials.

Days later, on Feb. 11, a female worker at the apartment agreed to have sex with an undercover police officer in exchange for $200, authorities said. Employees again agreed to have sex with undercover officers on Nov. 1 for $65, documents stated.

While inside the apartment, police noticed signs in English and Spanish that read “Tip the Ladies” and “chica cards”—business cards that advertise prostitution. They also found mail belonging to Blakis.

The landlord gave police access to CCTV footage in the building's common area, which showed multiple women coming and exiting from the apartment for nighttime "work shifts," authorities said.

Throughout the day, numerous men were spotted entering and exiting the apartment, with some lingering for 10 to 15 minutes. Women were also spotted keeping their items at Blakis' mother's apartment next door, police said.

On Nov. 10, 2023, the NYPD raided Blakis' apartment, where they found him sitting on a couch in the living room. Inside a bedroom, they found an undressed woman with a man, as well as a second woman who fled the apartment and was caught on the fire escape.

There was also another man sitting on the couch who allegedly admitted to being in the apartment to engage in prostitution, police said.

Inside the apartment, investigators found five cell phones containing evidence related to prostitution, such as advertisements for different women, pricing and availability. Police also found $5,000 in cash, chica cards and a 2023 calendar with women's names noted on different dates.

Police reported that Blakis had worked as a structural maintainer with the MTA for six years before his arrest.

“We have no comment on an indictment against one of 70,000 employees, other than the conduct charged in this case is not reflective of the values of New York City Transit, and this employee was immediately suspended,” MTA Spokesperson Kayla Shults told Patch.

Blakis is facing charges of third- and fourth-degree promoting prostitution as well as permitting prostitution. He has been instructed to appear in court again on May 8, 2024, prosecutors said.