Former Islip Teacher Gets 840 Hours Community Service In Lieu Of Jail For Part In Brothel Operation: Report

RIVERSIDE, NY — The former Islip teacher, accused along with a former Suffolk police officer of running a brothel, on Wednesday was sentenced to 840 hours of community service in lieu of six months in jail, court documents show.

Steven Arey, 55, of Islip, additionally received five years' probation, according to the records.

Arey was indicted and charged with enterprise corruption and 27 counts of third-degree promoting prostitution, but pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree promoting prostitution in April for his role in running the operation, the records show.

He is due back in court in February for an administrative proceeding, according to the records.

Patch has reached out to his attorney, Michael Brown of Central Islip.

Brown said that his client was suspended by the Islip Union Free School District after his arrest last year, and retired, Newsday reported. An Islip school official told the publication that Arey, who worked in Islip schools for 26 years, has not worked for the district since August.

The Suffolk District Attorney’s Public Corruption Bureau Chief Kevin Ward said the plea deal is a result of Arey’s cooperation in the case and his willingness to testify against his three co-defendants, according to Newsday.

Arey's co-defendants include George Trimigliozzi, Frank Saggio, and Dana Ciardullo.

Each of them pleaded guilty in September.

Trimigliozzi was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on Monday.

Saggio pleaded guilty to enterprise corruption, a felony, and agreed to pay $1,875,000 in forfeiture as part of his plea agreement, according to prosecutors.

Ciardullo pleaded guilty to third-degree promoting prostitution, a felony.

Saggio and Ciardullo are due back in court for sentencing on Dec. 18.